Improved J Estimation by GE/EPRI Method for the Thin-Walled Pipes With Small Constant-Depth Circumferential Surface Cracks

Abstract

Application of thin-walled high strength steel has become a trend in the oil and gas transportation system over long distance. Failure assessment is an important issue in the construction and maintenance of the pipelines. This work provides an engineering estimation procedure to determine the J-integral for the thin-walled pipes with small constant-depth circumferential surface cracks subject to the tensile loading based upon the General Electric/Electric Power Research (GE/EPRI) method. The values of elastic influence functions for stress intensity factor and plastic influence functions for fully plastic J-integral are derived in tabulated forms through a series of three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) calculations for a wide range of crack geometries and material properties. Furthermore, the fit equations for elastic and plastic influence functions are developed, where the effects of crack geometries are explicitly revealed. The new influence functions lead to an efficient J estimation and can be well applied for structural integrity assessment of thin-walled pipes with small constant-depth circumferential surface cracks under tension.