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Design of welded structures – fatigue and fracture seminar (Auckland)
February 21, 2020 @ 12:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Our thanks to Simuserv for sponsoring the Auckland component of the Welded Structures seminar series.
The degradation of products and structures imposes a significant cost for the owners and operators of plant and equipment. Besides the financial aspects, the possible risk to human life and health is always a major consideration.
In service only a few structures experience purely static loads and most will be subjected to some fluctuations in applied stresses and may therefore be regarded as being fatigue loaded.
Besides corrosion and brittle fracture, fatigue is the main source (more than 75%) of failures or degradation of steel structures. Fatigue failures can occur in both welded and unwelded components.
However, most of the steel products are fabricated using welding and welded joints are most vulnerable to fatigue.
To avoid premature failures and high maintenance costs, design procedures should be based on state of the art technical standards and guidelines.
The seminar will cover a range of fatigue assessment techniques focusing on a widely used assessment based on a nominal stress method as used in AS/NZS 5100.6, NZS 3404.1 and AS 4100 as well as IIW Guideline “Fatigue design of welded structures”. Work examples to demonstrate the application of the assessment methodology will be demonstrated.
Steel structures can also suffer usually suffer from brittle fracture e.g. as a result of fatigue damage. Brittle fracture is a sudden event which only can be avoided by proper design and selection of material. The seminar will cover design to avoid brittle fracture with the reference to HERA guideline that is currently being develop. It extends the range of steels and temperatures supplementing brittle fracture requirements of NZS 3404.1 and AS/NZS 5100.6.
Perfect for:
- Designers
- Structural engineers
- Mechanical engineers
- Fabricators
- Welding engineers and supervisors,
- Quality control,
- Maintenance and inspection personnel;
- Consultancy engineers
What you’ll get:
- How to generate your innovation projects and new products and services
- Selection of steel to avoid brittle fracture (new recommendations supplementing NZS 3404.1)
- The basics of fatigue
- Effects of materials, corrosion, temperature
- Fatigue analysis based on the “classic” easy-to-use nominal stress approach
- Work examples of the fatigue assessment using the above approach
- Fabrication quality control and inspection
- The newest fatigue related developments in science and technology
- Real examples of failures due to fatigue
- A forum for discussions of individual problems and case studies
Agenda for workshop
Room to be confirmed.
- 12:30 pm Welded Structures registration – Prof Hobbacher
- 1:00 – 1.45 pm Selection of materials to avoid brittle fracture
- 1:45 – 2:30 pm Basics of Fatigue, Effects and Influences
- 2:30 – 2:45 pm Afternoon Tea
- 2:45 – 3:30 pm Application of the Design Codes and Guideline
- 3:30 – 4:15 pm Work Examples and Case Studies
- 4:15 – 4:45 pm Weld quality, fabrication and inspection requirements
- 4:45 – 5:00 pm Q&A
- 5:00 pm Close
Make the most of your day with us, and level up!
Because this seminar runs in parallel to our Future Forum 20/20 VISION conference, you have the chance to really get the most out of the day by opting to add on additional events happening around the Grand Millennium.
So don’t miss out – and invest in your future today!

Thursday 20 February.
1245pm – 6pm, Grand Millennium Hotel
Cost: $172.50

Friday 21 February.
7am – 9am, Aucklander Room
Cost: $75

Friday 21 February.
9am – 1230pm, Aucklander Room
Cost: $400 (normally $550 for 20/20 VISION attendees)

Friday 21 February.
6pm – 1100pm, Aucklander War Museum Events Centre
Cost: $230
Because you’re investing in this course in Auckland, we’d also like to offer you an exclusive opportunity to sign up for our pre-conference cluster workshops on 20 February 2020.
Featuring Gijs Van der Velden from MX3D and Des Watkins from Watkins Steel, you’ll get exposure to two experts in their field who will run workshops on design of welded structures using robotics, and developing a four-step end-to-end digital process for steel fabrication, utilising 3D scanning, digital twins, augmented reality and automation.
Both workshops hold significant potential to create innovative structures, streamline processes, create cost-efficiencies and increase productivity – they are not to be missed!
This is an amazing networking experience for those working in the metals industry or with metals as a material.
Aimed at those at the grass roots with ambitions for career growth in the engineering industry – this is a great personal development breakfast session which allows you have a voice as an integral part of our workforce.
Have a mechanism to influence both your managers and our industry’s future direction, meet the next generation of engineers, and find out what the future of our industry as a career looks like.
Hosted by the charismatic and talented Alia Bojilova – she knows the power of the human mind and soul as a trainer for the NZ SAS and HR specialist, as well as the value of the right culture and mindset in a work environment.
This seminar runs in parallel to our Future Forum 20/20 VISION conference.
That’s why, in registering to our Auckland Welded Structures seminar session, you get exclusive access to the morning plenary of 20/20 VISION as well!
You’ll hear from Futurist Chris Riddell, who is not only a star speaker for Callaghan Innovation and the Australian Steel Institute but a great point of reference to future trends that might affect the metals industry and how we design and use this material.
You’ll also hear from Gijs van der Velden who founded the company MX3D in the Netherlands. Responsible for printing the first ever steel footbridge, he brings exciting expertise and insight into robotics and how it could help push the boundaries in design, architecture and construction using 3D printing and innovative technology.
Finish your day off in style – and join a night full of glitz and glam for our members and their key stakeholders and clients to celebrate our industry wins.
It also includes an exquisite three-course ‘Kiwiana’ meal, and world-class entertainment.
This is a fantastic networking opportunity for you, and a mechanism to host clients or a team to a rewarding session full of industry leaders.

Professor Adolf F Hobbacher
Prof Hobbacher is one of the leading fatigue experts and has an extensive background in engineering as a designer, researcher and educator.
His experience includes chemical plant equipment, heavy machinery, pressure vessels/pipes and structural steelwork. His research activities are mainly on the fatigue of welded structures and he was instrumental in establishing the new fatigue design recommendations of the International Institute of Welding (IIW) through Commissions XIII Fatigue of welded components and structures and XV Design, analysis and fabrication of welded structures.
Grand Millennium Hotel Auckland
71 Mayoral Drive
Cnr Vincent St
Auckland 1010
Not based in Auckland?
This event is also being held in:
Please note, that 20/20 VISION add on’s are only available to the Auckland Design of welding seminar
$450
$550
$700
Our ‘Platinum’ Ordinary members
Our ‘Gold’ Associate & Affiliate members
Non members
Level up ‘add ons’
Fill up your calendar for the day:
$172.50
$75
$400
$230
Thursday 20 February 2020
Cluster workshop from 1245pm – 6pm
Friday 21 February 2020
Nation Breakfast from 7am – 9am
Friday 21 February
20/20 VISION morning plenary from 9am – 1230pm
* $150 discount *
Friday 21 February
Nation Dinner from 6pm – 1100pm
Like the look of the Ordinary membership pricing?
It’s not too late to sign up or upgrade your membership to secure better course pricing discounts!
Contact our Manager Member Services and Support Brian Low for details.
- Prices include GST
Bookings
Register today by simply filling out the online form below and we’ll take care of the rest!
I’m sorry – registration for this course has now closed.
We suggest you search our events section online to see if we’re holding this particular course in another location that would suit you. Alternatively, we can place you on a waitlist for the next available course.
To do so, please send an email to [email protected] with subject title: Course waitlist request. Please include your full name, company, contact phone number, course and location you’re interested in within the email.