Crack growth around stress concentrations in pipes and tubes

Abstract

Fatigue crack growth behaviour in pipes fundamentally differs from fatigue growth in shafts andflat plates. The aim of this paper is to give a better understanding of this phenomenon. In a first part of thepaper, the general principles of the fracture mechanics are concisely described. The energy approach aswell as the stress intensity factor (SIF) approach are explained. An analytical method, a numeric method aswell as an experimental method to determine the SIF are discussed. Special attention is given to theexperimental method. A theoretical model predicting the deflection of a pipe tested in a resonant bendingtest setup is evaluated and compared to experimental measured deflections. Several methods to measurethe crack growth in a pipe during and after a fatigue bending test are discussed. In addition, an overview isgiven of results obtained by other authors in the field of fatigue crack growth behaviour of pipes.