Structural integrity assessment procedures such as R6, BS 7910, API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 and RSE-M present fracture mechanics-based methods for assessing the integrity of cracked structures.  These methods rely on the availability of appropriate stress intensity factors (SIFs) and the procedures therefore include a variety of SIF solutions, as well as referring the user to alternative solutions presented in external references.  The present paper compares the SIF solutions for surface-cracked plates presented in or referred to by R6, BS 7910, API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 and RSE-M.  Both extended surface cracks and semi-elliptical surface cracks are considered. 

In general, the agreement between the various solutions is found to be good at within 5%.  However, particular cases are highlighted which are associated with larger differences between the SIFs.  For extended surface cracks, the various solutions agree closely at within 5%.  For semi-elliptical surface cracks, the agreement between the various solutions is generally better at the deepest point that at the so-called 'surface point'.  In particular, the 'surface point' SIFs corresponding to the Vainshtok and Varfolomeyev weight function solution which appears in API-579-1/ASME FFS-1 differ significantly from the other solutions in some cases.  It is concluded that further work is required in order to establish an appropriate definition of the 'surface point' SIF for use in structural integrity calculations.


A Comparison of Stress Intensity Factor Solutions for Surface Cracked Plates

Division / Sponsors: 
Pressure Vessels & Piping (PVP)


Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/PVP/PVP2020/volume/83815

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