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Structural Systems for making this thesis possible. The two years spent as an ATLSS researcher have provided invaluable research experience. Thanks to the ATLSS technician staff for their help and support in the preparation of the test specimens.Thanks to Ed Tomlinson for his help in setting up the data acquisition system.The author would like to express his sincere gratitude to Professor Richard Roberts for his patience and guidance throughout this project. Through his guidance, the author has learned that the best way to approach engineering problems is by taking one step at a time.1ll AbstractUsing a finite element model to generate compliance values, stress intensity solutions were developed for an edge cracked T-section in tension. The finite element model was developed specifically for T-section geometries with thin web sections.Several T-section geometries were analyzed. A limited set of experiments were performed to validate some of the finite element modeling using compliance specimens. The experimental results were in good agreement with the predictions made using the finite element model. Dimensional similarity was investigated and a set of dimensionless modeling parameters were identified.

Experiments were conducted at room temperature on 16 full-scale welded structural members containing fatigue cracks. These I-section and box-section members were fabricated from HSLA-80 steel that exhibits upper-shelf behavior at room temperature. These members consistently reached at least the net-section collapse load and deformed to several times the yield-point displacement. The experiments were analyzed with a variety of ductilefracture models including the three levels in the British Standards Institute document PD 6493, a stable tearing analysis using finite-element analysis to calculate J, and a limit-load analysis. These models were studied in order to evaluate their usefulness and degree of conservatism relative to experimental results.

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