Load bearing capacity of flawed piping components-comparison of experiment with calculation

摘要

Integrity assessment of piping components with postulated cracks is important for safe and reliable operation of power plants. While various equations and methods are available for prediction of the load bearing capacity of pipes and elbows, it is very important to choose the correct equation and method whose predictions are consistent, safe but not too conservative with respect to the experimental results. Towards this goal, a comprehensive Component Integrity Assessment Program was initiated under a joint MPA-B ARC collaborative program where a large number of austenitic and ferritic pipes and elbows of nominal diameter of 50-400 mm with various crack configurations and sizes were tested. These test results along with results of previous tests were analysed with various available limit load equations present and also with the R6 method. Based on the comparison of these test results and predictions, the correct equation and method are recommended to reliably predict the load bearing capacity of flawed pipes and elbows. Integrity assessment, Piping, Leak-before-break (LBB) behaviour, Analyticalumerical and experimental investigations, Engineering and fracture mechanics methods, Limit load calculations.