3. Conclusion

The definition of a high-performance welded joint, intended for a mechanical structure operating under a given load system, requires a perfect mastery of fundamental design rules, among which the notion of geometric constraint, as well as the mode of opening a planar discontinuity, are two of the most significant examples. Here again, the challenge facing welded mechanical engineering in the future will be to remain competitive with composite construction on the one hand, and additive manufacturing on the other, which is becoming a technology in which some of the design rules discussed above are applicable.