Abstract

Experimental fatigue tests were performed for a S960 steel grade, including hot-dip galvanized (HDG) round base material specimens, and laser cut, and machined notched component-sized specimens made of t = 6 mm S960 ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS) plates. Cracking after the HDG was found to have a major influence on fatigue strength and thus reducing the effect of surface quality on the fatigue performance. Design guidelines for notched HDG components are proposed, and HDG with UHSSs was found suitable for structures with geometrical notches. Multiparametric TCD-based 4R method application was introduced, and it was found to be applicable for the fatigue strength assessment of structural details with initial cracks.