Stress intensity factors of elliptical cracks at the weld toe

The paper takes into account the assessment of the stress intensity factor (SIF) of defects similar to elliptical cracks located at the weld toe. By assuming a second order approximation of the Oore-Burns equations the SIF has been evaluated with simplified equations. The analytical results are compared with those evaluated by means of the finite elements method. As an example, the SIF is calculated for a defect located in the neighborhood of the weld toe of full penetration cruciform joints under mode I loading