Braun, MoritzMoritzBraunGrimm, Jan-HendrikJan-HendrikGrimmHoffmeister, HassoHassoHoffmeisterEhlers, SörenSörenEhlersFricke, WolfgangWolfgangFricke2019-04-252019-04-252018-04-30Ships and Offshore Structures sup1 (13): 47-55 (2018-04-30)http://hdl.handle.net/11420/2449Keels of high-performance sailing yachts are highly stressed parts of the hull structure. Such keels are either milled or are welded hollow profiles. Recently a trend towards using high strength steel to manufacture keels is observed. While the fatigue strength of the parent material increases linearly with yield strength, it is independent of yield strength after welding. This problem can be overcome by post-weld improvement of the local weld geometry. Fatigue test results of the critical weld detail made from S900 steel are compared in welded state and after weld toe grinding. Additional tests of the same detail made from S355 steel, are performed. Moreover, tests of the notched parent material corresponding to a milled keel are presented. The fatigue strength of the grinded specimens was 2.2 times larger than in as-welded condition. The notched base material specimens act as an upper bound S-N curve for the post-weld improved specimens.en1744-530220184755Journal Article10.1080/17445302.2018.1425522Journal Article