Search

We describe the application of the dual boundary element method for the determination of stress intensity factors in plate bending problems. The loadings considered include internal pressure, and also combined bending and tension. Mixed mode stress intensity factors are evaluated by a crack surface displacement extrapolation technique and the J-integral technique. The boundary element results for the case studies considered in the paper have been compared with either analytical or finite element results and in all cases good agreement has been achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors have outlined methodological principles and a procedure of performing the updated analysis of stress-strain state and fracture resistance of welded joints between coolant headers and PGV-1000M steam generator vessel. The paper gives the results of the elastic-plastic fracture resistance analysis of a welded joint containing variously shaped surface defects, in modeling a design operation cycle and an accident situation. According to the data obtained, the deformation loading history, residual technological stresses, and inclusion of surface damages have a significant effect on the design assessment of fracture resistance of a welding joint. It has been shown that the conventional linearly elastic calculation of fracture resistance of welded joints has an inadequate degree of conservatism and thus overestimates strength of the joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses the use of small-sized specimens of various types, including those with deep (50%) side grooves, for the purpose of fracture toughness prediction. The experimental data for numerous (more than 500) small-sized specimens prepared from materials of various degrees of embrittlement are compared to the test results for full-sized specimens of C(T) type. The concepts of Master Curve and Unified Curve are applied for the processing of experimental data. To handle the test results for small-sized deep-grooved specimens a calculation procedure has been elaborated, which adjusts the calculation method specified in the ASTM Standard E 1921. We provide recommendations of how to use precracked Charpy type deep-grooved (50%) specimens for prediction of a representative temperature dependence of fracture toughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of the crack path is important for predicting the unexpected failures or assessing fatigue life in engineering material. To simulate the crack path under mixed mode loading using a finite element model, a new local element cracking technique was proposed. The waiting cracking element was divided into two units along crack propagation direction based on the maximum circumference ( K = 0) criterion. Then, the information of element number and nodal number was also modified and singular elements were avoided by the transfixion method. With advantages of small remeshing only on a local region, this method also examined three classic problems of stationary crack growth, i.e., edge crack propagation in double cantilever beam, mode I cracking in an asphalt concrete beam, a crack in typical longitudinal connection of large natural gas carriers. The calculated stress intensity factors and the predicted crack trajectories using this method agree well with the theoretical solutions existing in literature. Optimal design of structure against failure by fast fracture is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ñurrent calculation analysis approaches to the fracture resistance assessment for main equipment elements of the WWER NPP primary circuit are considered. It is noted that the solution of the problems of justifying safe operation, assessment of the integrity and extension of the lifetime of the reactor pressure vessel is essentially dependent on the results of calculations of the kinetics of the stress strain state, a proper consideration of the residual welding stress and strain fields, reliable evaluation of non-linear fracture mechanics parameters. A general methodology is developed for a calculated analysis of the fracture resistance of WWER reactor pressure vessels in the simulation of emergency cooling conditions. The main statements in the elastoplastic calculation of the kinetics of the stress strain state for reactor pressure vessels are formulated with consideration of the residual welding stress and strain fields, and the calculation procedure for determining the fracture parameters of the postulated crack is presented. Using the calculation methods and software product developed, a significant influence of such factors as consideration of the thermomechanical loading history and elastoplastic deformation of the metal in the vicinity of the postulated crack front, different ways of taking into consideration the residual welding stress level, the regularity and density of the finite element mesh in the vicinity of the calculated crack front, the procedure for calculating the elastoplastic fracture parameters in discrete finite element method models on the calculated fracture resistance assessment of WWER-1000 reactor pressure vessels is shown. It is found that the neglect of the loading history and residual stress level after heat treatment results in a non-conservative assessment of the fracture resistance for the collector-to-nozzle welded joint in the PGV-1000 steam generator in the simulation of the operating cycle of loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The minimum sizes of cylindrical specimens are determined, in order to find the valid values of fracture toughness. The limit load for the body of revolution with deep hyperbolic circular grooves under uniaxial tension is estimated using the structural fracture criterion. The critical load for the elastic space with an outer circumferential crack is estimated by performing the limiting transition at an infinitely small radius of curvature of the groove. The size of the minimum cross section of the cylindrical specimen is determined with the consistency between the structural criterion and the Irwin criterion. The specimen diameter is proposed to be determined based on the requirement of equality between the stress intensity factors for a deep crack in the body of revolution and a surface crack in the half-plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modification of a method for the determination of limiting pressure for gas and oil pipelines with corrosion damages of local type under the action of internal pressure and with allowance for temperature field is considered. The problem is solved numerically in three-dimensional formulation. Particular numerical examples illustrate the general design procedure and show satisfactory agreement with experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]