This document provides guidance for setting appropriate weld quality requirements in relation to fatigue.

This document is applicable to fusion (arc and/or beam welding) welded steel plate-type structures having a thickness of >3 mm, which are subjected to cyclic loading.

Due to lack of experimental data for aluminium welds and ultra-high strength steels, the fatigue strength (or S-N) curves apply only to structural steel up to a maximum specified yield strength of 960 MPa.

The acceptance criteria in this document may be applied to higher strength steels, stainless steels and certain concepts to 5000 and 6000 series of aluminium alloys which are commonly used in welded structures. In the absence of relevant published data, it is recommended that this be quantified by special testing.