About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 AWS Professional Program
|
| Symposium
|
2026 AWS Professional Program
|
| Presentation Title |
Fatigue Improvement of Welded Cover-Plates Using High Frequency Mechanical Impact (HFMI) Post-Weld Treatment |
| Author(s) |
Reza Haghani, Michael Neher, Jeong K. Hong, Mohammad Al-Emrani |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Reza Haghani |
| Abstract Scope |
Many existing steel bridges in the United States require upgrading to support increasing load demands. A widely adopted method for enhancing the flexural capacity of beams is the application of cover plates.
The application of High-Frequency Mechanical Impact (HFMI) post-weld treatment for improving the fatigue strength of welded cover-plates to steel beams subjected to cyclic loads is discussed. Additionally, results of numerical analyses conducted to assess the risk of root cracking at the welded terminations are presented. The results demonstrate that HFMI treatment significantly enhances fatigue performance, improving their fatigue strength by more than four detail categories according to International Institute of Welding (IIW) recommendations. Notably, no root cracking is observed in any tested specimens. These findings highlight HFMI treatment as a viable alternative to bolted connections and an effective method for reinforcing and extending the service life of existing structures with welded cover-plates. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |