The Effect of Polymer Pipe Weld Geometry on Creep Lifetime

Abstract

In the case of large diameter polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) pipes the most usual joint is the butt weld. This paper focuses on the influence of a weld bead on the service life of welded pipes from a fracture mechanics perspective. To this aim the stress concentrator created by the connection between the weld bead and the pipe’s free surface is modelled as a notch. Global parameters defining properties of stress and strain field in the notch region are calculated for materials with a prevailing Norton-type creep. It is demonstrated that in the case of creep loading conditions and ductile failure mode the existence of such stress concentrators has no negative influence on the lifetime of pipes.