Numerical study of the applicability of the eta-factor method to J-resistance curve determination of steam generator tubes using non-standard specimens

摘要

The suitability of the eta-factor method for the determination of J-resistance curves of thin walled steam generator tubes was evaluated using elastoplastic finite element analysis. Different candidate non-standard specimens' geometries were considered. It was shown how high constraint conditions associated with deep cracks geometries and prevailing bending loads favor the eta-factor validity while low constraint configurations resulted in a eta-factors exhibiting a higher dependence on the applied load. It was also verified that eta-factors based on the crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) showed much less dependency on the loading level than eta-factors derived from load line displacement (LLD). (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.