The effect of crack-tip constraint in some problems of fracture mechanics

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 ◽  
pp. 104413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu.G. Matvienko
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Crack Tip ◽  
Crack Tip Constraint

Accounting for Constraint in Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics Analysis of Welds in Floating Production, Storage and Off-Loading (FPSO) Vessels

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens P. Tronskar
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Stress Distribution ◽  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Failure Probability ◽  
Crack Tip ◽  
Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Crack Tip Constraint

Revision 4 of the British Energy R6 document: “Assessment of the integrity of structures containing defects” provides methods to allow for loss of crack tip constraint for shallow weld flaws. The document also provides methods to estimate upper-bound values of the through thickness residual stress distribution for a range of common weld joint configurations. The present paper presents results of analyses where approaches to modify the R6 Option 1 or 2 failure assessment diagrams (FADs) for loss of crack tip constraint pertaining to primary and non-uniform residual stress have been applied. The modified FAD were formulated for probabilistic fracture mechanics analyses of semi-elliptical surface cracks located at transverse deck welds of Floating Production, Storage and Off-loading (FPSO) vessels designed to operate in the North Sea. The objective was to study the influence on the failure probability of modifying the FAD for constraint and allowing for non-uniform residual stress. Another objective was to study the influence of constraint correction on the combined fatigue and fracture failure probability for the vessels subjected to wave loading. Material and weld tensile properties and fracture toughness distributions for input to the probabilistic fracture mechanics analyses were obtained from testing of welded panels prepared using welding procedures for actual FPSO fabrication. The loading conditions were derived based on North Sea wave data pertaining to the offshore field where the FPSO is operating. The stresses were obtained from global FE analysis and fitted Weibull long-term and extreme value distributions. The results of the analyses demonstrate clearly the importance of correcting for crack tip constraint pertaining to both primary and secondary stress and to allow for non-uniform residual stress for shallow surface flaws of known crack heights. However, in combination with fatigue crack growth the effects become less prominent as the failure probability is governed by the uncertainty in the parameters of the crack growth relationship and the long-term stress distribution.

Deterministic and Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics Analysis of Pipeline Weld Flaws Accounting for Crack Tip Constraint Effects

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens P. Tronskar ◽  
Zhang Li
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Crack Tip ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Pipeline Construction ◽  
Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Weld Defects ◽  
Specific Loading ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Constraint Effects ◽  
Crack Tip Constraint

The acceptability of weld defects during line pipe manufacture and pipeline construction is governed by international codes and standards such as the DNV OS-F101 or API1104. These are universal standards applicable for a wide range of pipeline usage conditions, which include typical workmanship criteria for flaw acceptance. It is, however, possible to establish more precise and often less conservative acceptance criteria using a Fitness-For-Service (FFS) approach through the application of procedures such as those of BS 7910. These are based on applying deterministic or probabilistic fracture mechanics principles on specific loading, materials and toughness properties and service conditions of a pipeline. This paper describes the conventional assessment methodology and more advanced approaches to account for crack tip constraint, dynamic loading due to VIV associated with free-spans. The paper highlights two cases as examples where the approaches have been applied for assessing the criticality of weld defects detected during pipeline construction and their impact on the reliability during service.

Investigation on Constraint Effect of a Reactor Pressure Vessel Subjected to Pressurized Thermal Shocks

2014 ◽  
Vol 137 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guian Qian ◽  
Markus Niffenegger
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Plastic Material ◽  
Crack Tip ◽  
Constraint Effect ◽  
Elastic Plastic ◽  
Elastic Plastic Material ◽  
Crack Tip Constraint ◽  
Reactor Pressure ◽  
Thermal Shocks

The integrity of a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) related to pressurized thermal shocks (PTSs) has been extensively studied. This paper introduces the method of using fracture mechanics for the integrity analysis of a RPV subjected to PTS transients. A 3-D finite element (FE) model is used to perform thermal and fracture mechanics analyses by considering both elastic and elastic–plastic material models. The results show that the linear elastic analysis leads to a more conservative result than the elastic–plastic analysis. The variation of the T-stress and Q-stress (crack tip constraint loss) of a surface crack in a RPV subjected to PTSs is studied. A shallow crack is assumed in the RPV and the corresponding constraint effect on fracture toughness of the material is quantified by the K–T method. The safety margin of the RPV is larger based on the K–T approach than based only on the K approach. The J–Q method with the modified boundary layer formulation (MBL) is used for the crack tip constraint analysis by considering elastic–plastic material properties. For all transient times, the real stress is lower than that calculated from small scale yielding (SSY) due to the loss of crack tip constraint.

ATLAS PLUS: Design of Large Scale Fracture Mechanics Tests on a Ferritic Pipe

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Nicak ◽  
Tobias Bolinder ◽  
Elisabeth Keim ◽  
Alexander Eriksson ◽  
Patrick Le Delliou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Crack Tip ◽  
Bending Test ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Integrity Assessment ◽  
Design Calculations ◽  
Crack Tip Constraint ◽  
Large Scale Tests

This paper summarizes the design calculations performed by Framatome, EDF, KIWA INSPECTA and VTT for three large scale tests on ferritic pipes made of material WB 36 (15 NiCuMoNb 5). The large scale tests will be performed on a 4-point bending test facility provided by EDF under displacement control at room temperature. The overall goal of the planned large scale tests is to demonstrate the effect of the crack tip constraint on the fracture toughness at the component level. Results of those tests will be utilized to develop and validate advanced tools for structural integrity assessment within WP 3 particularly with respect to the transferability of material properties from small scale specimens to large scale components as well as for the development and validation of a procedure for the determination of component fracture resistance curves. Three configurations of the initial defect with different constraint conditions (one through-wall and two surface cracks) are considered. The design calculations are divided into two parts. In the first part an optimization of three different crack shapes is performed on basis of the standard fracture mechanics approach (based on J-Integral) without consideration of the constraint effect. In the second part a quantification of the crack tip constraint for the selected crack configurations from part I is performed. The effect of the constraint on the crack initiation and propagation for the selected crack configurations shall be assessed and compared between each other. Based on these calculations the final flaw configuration for each large scale experiment is selected.

Investigation on Constraint Effect of a Reactor Pressure Vessel Subjected to Pressurized Thermal Shocks

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guian Qian ◽  
Markus Niffenegger
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Plastic Material ◽  
Crack Tip ◽  
Constraint Effect ◽  
Elastic Plastic ◽  
Elastic Plastic Material ◽  
Crack Tip Constraint ◽  
Reactor Pressure ◽  
Thermal Shocks

The integrity of a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) related to pressurized thermal shocks (PTSs) has been extensively studied. This paper introduces the method of using fracture mechanics for the integrity analysis of a RPV subjected to PTS transients. A 3-D finite element (FE) model is used to perform thermal and fracture mechanics analyses by considering both elastic and elastic-plastic material models. The results show that the linear elastic analysis leads to a more conservative result than the elastic-plastic analysis. The variation of the T-stress and Q-stress (crack tip constraint loss) of a surface crack in a RPV subjected to PTSs is studied. A shallow crack is assumed in the RPV and the corresponding constraint effect on fracture toughness of the material is quantified by the K-T method. The safety margin of the RPV is larger based on the K-T approach than only based on the K approach. The J-Q method with the modified boundary layer formulation (MBL) is used for the crack tip constraint analysis by considering elastic-plastic material properties. For all transient times, the real stress is lower than that calculated from small scale yielding (SSY) due to the loss of crack tip constraint.

The Effects of In-Plane and Out-of-Plane Dimensions of a Curved Wide-Plate on Crack-Tip Constraint for Pipeline Fracture Assessment

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hwee-Seung Lee ◽  
Nam-Su Huh ◽  
Ki-Seok Kim
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Crack Tip ◽  
Standard Test ◽  
Crack Tip Opening Displacement ◽  
Opening Displacement ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
Dimensional Finite Element ◽  
Crack Tip Constraint ◽  
Crack Tip Opening

One important element of fracture mechanics assessment in pipelines is how to determine the relevant fracture toughness (J-resistance or CTOD-resistance (crack-tip opening displacement)) for nonlinear fracture mechanics analysis. The general practice using a standard fracture mechanics specimen is known to often provide conservative estimates of toughness due to differences in crack-tip constraints between standard specimens and actual components. To improve the accuracy of predicting pipeline failure, various non-standard fracture mechanics specimens have been suggested over the past few decades. Among the several non-standard test specimens, a curved wide-plate in tension is often employed to predict fracture behavior of cracked components, for instance, in gas transportation pipelines. In order to show validity of a curved wide-plate in tension, the fracture toughness values from a full-scale pipeline test have been compared with those from a curved wide-plate in tension, and crack-tip constraints of a curved wide-plate in tension have also been compared with those of actual pipelines or other specimens during last decades. It is well known that a crack-tip constraint of test specimens, including curved wide-plates in tension, depends on many geometric and material parameters, for instance, crack length, thickness and width of specimen and material’s hardening characteristic. Thus, in order to obtain relevant fracture resistance from a curved wide-plate in tension representing accurate crack-tip constraint of pipeline of interest, variations of crack-tip constraints of curved wide-plates in tension according to various in-plane and out-of-plane constraint conditions should systematically be quantified. In the present study, systematic 3-dimensional finite element analyses attempt to investigate the effect of in-plane and out-of-plane parameters on crack-tip constraints of a curved wide-plate in tension.

Mismatch Effect on Fracture Driving Force in Mismatched Girth Welded Pipes

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo M. Castelluccio ◽  
S. Cravero ◽  
R. Bravo ◽  
H. Ernst
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Crack Tip ◽  
J Integral ◽  
Inhomogeneous Materials ◽  
Crack Location ◽  
Unstable Failure ◽  
Edge Notch ◽  
Material Fracture ◽  
Crack Tip Constraint

Elasto-Plastic Fracture Mechanics (EPFM) is a useful tool for analyzing the structural integrity of components. However, EPFM has originally been developed for homogeneous materials and there are some concerns when it is applied to inhomogeneous materials. In the case of welds, the material fracture toughness and the applied fracture mechanics parameter on the structural member (J-integral, CTOD) should be adequately estimated. Furthermore, the mechanic mismatch influences on the local constraint may increase the risk of unstable failure. Hence, to study the effects of weld mismatch and crack locations on fracture behavior, single edge notch under tension (SE(T)) specimens and girth welded pipes under bending containing circumferential cracks were studied by means of finite elements simulations. Different weld widths and locations of cracks over the weld are considered. A study of the opening stresses ahead the crack tip developed in mismatched SE(T) specimens and cracked pipes allows the determination of the most critical combination of weld width and crack location in terms of applied J-integral and crack tip constraint level.

Development of Fracture Toughness Testing of Thin-Width SEN(B) Specimens

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Kulka
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Test Specimen ◽  
Stress Triaxiality ◽  
Crack Tip ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Fracture Toughness Testing ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
Toughness Testing ◽  
Crack Tip Constraint

During fracture toughness testing of SEN(B) specimens, an important assumption is that the test specimen is highly constrained. This assumption is ensured by the testing of a deeply cracked specimen, with in-plane and out-of-plane dimensions that are sufficient to guarantee an appropriate level of crack tip stress triaxiality. This condition guarantees that high-constraint fracture toughness values are derived, conservative for use in standard fracture mechanics assessments. In reality, many components have small in-plane or out-of-plane dimensions. It is considered that this could cause a reduction in crack tip constraint of a sufficient amount to increase the effective fracture toughness of the components. However, there is currently limited understanding as to the magnitude of the benefits that could be claimed. Finite element analysis of various thin-width SEN(B) specimens has been undertaken. The knowledge gained can be used to develop fracture mechanics methodology for the testing of thin-width specimens and the subsequent derivation of appropriate toughness values.

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