Elastic-Plastic Analysis of Crack Opening, Stable Growth and Instability Behavior in Flawed 304 SS Piping

Abstract

Crack initiation, stable growth, instability and crack opening behavior in flawed 304 SS piping has been examined within the framework of the engineering approach developed by Kumar, German and Shih [1]. Crack geometries considered include part-through, complete circumferentially cracked pipe subjected to remote tension, and through-wall flawed pipe in tension and in bending. Effect of flaw type and size, pipe diameter and length, and applied loading on the failure load and mechanism is investigated. Results are employed to assess the net section stress criterion based on plastic collapse. Crack opening area of interest in leak rate evaluations is calculated as a function of applied load or pipe end deflection for stationary as well as growing cracks.