Japanese Research Activities on Offshore Fracture Mechanics Applications

1988 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Machida ◽  
H. Yajima ◽  
M. Toyosada ◽  
Y. Hagiwara ◽  
K. Kajimoto

The brittle fracture, for its catastrophic nature, is one of the most important factors for designing offshore structures especially operating in the cold sea. Fracture mechanics method can provide a useful tool to maintain the reliability of structural integrity. This paper gives descriptions on a proposed method for fracture assessment with experimental verifications, and also informations from some recent Japanese research activities associated with the application of fracture mechanics to the offshore structures, i.e. initial defect size evaluation, a practical method for evaluation of the local strain in strain concentrated structural components, effect of strain rate on fracture toughness and fracture toughness of weldments.

Author(s):  
R. G. Hurlston ◽  
J. K. Sharples ◽  
A. H. Sherry

Quantifying material fracture toughness properties is an important step in ensuring structural integrity of industrial components. Welding of structural components can cause large magnitudes of residual stress to be generated, which can be defined as a stress that exists in a material when it is under no primary loading. These stresses can be retained in laboratory fracture mechanics testing specimens removed from non-stress relieved welds, making the quantification of valid material fracture toughness difficult. The aim of this paper is to investigate, analytically, the levels and distributions of residual stresses retained in fracture mechanics specimens taken from welded components. This was achieved using parametric finite element analyses. Furthermore, in order to ensure the validity of fracture toughness measurements derived from components that contain residual stress, a robust method for the design of stress-free fracture mechanics specimens is proposed. Significant weld residual stresses have been shown to be retained in certain laboratory specimens post extraction from non stress-relieved welds. The magnitude and distribution of retained residual stress has been shown to be dependant on material properties, specimen size, specimen type and removal location. In addition, the stress partitioning method has been shown to provide a useful approach for estimating the levels and distributions of residual stresses retained in fracture mechanics specimens extracted in certain orientations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 741 ◽  
pp. 57-62
Author(s):  
Fumito Kawamura ◽  
Masazumi Miura ◽  
Ryuichiro Ebara ◽  
Keiji Yanase

Many studies have been conducted to characterize the fracture toughness of structural steels and their welded joints. However, most studies focus on newly developed steels, and the number of studies on the fracture toughness of long-term used steels in structural components is rather limited. Furthermore, a lack of data on the fracture toughness causes difficulties in evaluating the structural integrity of existing steel structures. In this study, CTOD tests were performed to characterize the fracture toughness of penstock that has been in service for 50 years. By measuring the critical crack tip opening displacement in conjunction with analysis for chemical compositions, the characteristics of fracture toughness were investigated.


Author(s):  
Kazuya Osakabe ◽  
Koichi Masaki ◽  
Jinya Katsuyama ◽  
Genshichiro Katsumata ◽  
Kunio Onizawa

To assess the structural integrity of reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) during pressurized thermal shock (PTS) events, the deterministic fracture mechanics approach prescribed in Japanese code JEAC 4206-2007 [1] has been used in Japan. The structural integrity is judged to be maintained if the stress intensity factor (SIF) at the crack tip during PTS events is smaller than fracture toughness KIc. On the other hand, the application of a probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) analysis method for the structural reliability assessment of pressure components has become attractive recently because uncertainties related to influence parameters can be incorporated rationally. A probabilistic approach has already been adopted as the regulation on fracture toughness requirements against PTS events in the U.S. According to the PFM analysis method in the U.S., through-wall cracking frequencies (TWCFs) are estimated taking frequencies of event occurrence and crack arrest after crack initiation into consideration. In this study, in order to identify the conservatism in the current RPV integrity assessment procedure in the code, probabilistic analyses on TWCF have been performed for certain model of RPVs. The result shows that the current assumption in JEAC 4206-2007, that a semi-elliptic axial crack is postulated on the inside surface of RPV wall, is conservative as compared with realistic conditions. Effects of variation of PTS transients on crack initiation frequency and TWCF have been also discussed.


In implementing fracture mechanics based techniques for the design and life extension of structural components, it is necessary to establish the reliability with which various flaw sizes and types can be detected and characterized. Traditionally, this has been accomplished through extensive experimental demonstration programmes. This paper discusses present efforts to use model predictions to reduce the required amount of experimentation, and hence the cost, of such programmes. Formalisms whereby the extensive elastic-wave theoretical scattering effort of the last decade can be applied to practical problems are first reviewed. This is followed by several specific examples which have occurred in the nuclear and aerospace industries. The paper concludes with the identification of some important remaining theoretical problems and a discussion of possible strategies for future implementation of model calculations as tools in structural integrity programmes.


Author(s):  
R. S. Kulka

In conventional fracture mechanics assessments, there is often an inadequate treatment of in-plane constraint effects on the apparent toughness of structural components, leading to significant conservatism. Modifications to the Master Curve method, to account for these effects, have previously been suggested. A study of these proposed modifications has identified that less conservative toughness estimates could be made from the analysis of fracture mechanics test specimens. An approach has been developed for allowing a comparison of a variation of fracture toughness values throughout a component, to a variation of the localised effective driving force. Cracked-body finite element analysis has been used to assess fracture test specimens with varying levels of in-plane constraint, to provide fracture mechanics data for use with the approach that has been developed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 879 ◽  
pp. 54-59
Author(s):  
Fumiyoshi Minami ◽  
Mitsuru Ohata ◽  
Yasuhito Takashima

As the result of the international standardization work in Japanese IST project, ISO 27306 were published in 2009 for correction of CTOD fracture toughness for constraint loss in steel components. ISO 27306 employs an equivalent CTOD ratio based on the Weibull stress criterion, which leads to more accurate fracture assessment than the conventional fracture mechanics assessment. On the occasion of the 1st periodical review, the revision of ISO 27306 has been proposed from Japan. This paper describes the key contents of the new ISO 27306. A case study is included on the fracture assessment of a wide plate component according to FAD (failure assessment diagram) approach specified in BS 7910:2013.


1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. P. Kam ◽  
D. A. Topp ◽  
W. D. Dover

Evaluation of the structural integrity of offshore structures requires information on the reliability of nondestructive testing, the accuracy of fatigue crack growth modeling and other data. The University College London Underwater NDE Centre has been set up to provide information on the effectiveness and reliability of different nondestructive testing methods. To achieve this aim, a large library of cracked specimens will be assembled. In the preliminary phase of producing this library, a series of large-scale welded tubular joints were fatigue tested and the crack growth was fully monitored with the ACPD technique. This paper will describe briefly the background to the crack library and present the data obtained from fatigue tests. It will also describe a new model for fatigue crack growth prediction in tubular joints using fracture mechanics. This model allows the prediction of the size effect noted previously in the stress/life curves for tubular joints.


Author(s):  
Satoshi Igi ◽  
Mitsuru Ohata ◽  
Fumiyoshi Minami

Plastic constraint correction using the equivalent CTOD concept has been studied in the IST project. This project was carried out over a 3-year period with the foundation of METI in Japan, and the results were summarized in a draft standard, “Method of constraint loss correction of CTOD fracture toughness for fracture assessment of steel component.” Equivalent CTOD ratio β is proposed in terms of constraint loss correction between the fracture performance of steel structures and fracture toughness tests using the Weibull stress as the driving force of brittle fracture. This paper provides the application procedure of Equivalent CTOD ratio to the fracture assessment of structural components. Equivalent CTOD ratio was taken in the fracture assessment diagram, and discussed the applicability by comparison with large scale test result of structural component such as Edge Surface Crack Panel, Center Through-wall crack panel and so on.


2012 ◽  
Vol 706-709 ◽  
pp. 97-104
Author(s):  
Fumiyoshi Minami

This paper presents a new fracture assessment method, IST method developed as ISO 27306. The IST method implements an equivalent CTOD ratio,β, for the CTOD toughness correction for constraint loss in structural components. Usingβ, the standard fracture toughness specimen and structural components are linked at the same level of the Weibull stress. This paper extends the equivalent CTOD concept to weld components. Effects of the weld strength mismatch and residual stress onβare discussed. It is shown on the failure assessment diagram (FAD) that the CTOD toughness correction withβleads to accurate fracture assessments of weld panels, whereas the conventional procedure gives much conservative results.


Author(s):  
Xian-Kui Zhu

The J-integral is an important concept in the elastic-plastic fracture mechanics, and serves as a critical material parameter to quantify the toughness or resistance of ductile materials against fracture. The relation between the J-integral and crack extension has been widely used as the resistance curve of ductile materials in fracture mechanics design and in structural integrity assessment. Experimental testing and evaluation have played a central role in providing reliable fracture toughness properties to fracture mechanics analysis. Since the J-integral concept was proposed, extensive efforts of investigations have been made to develop its experimental estimation method, testing technique and standardization, as evident in the ASTM E1820 — a commonly used fracture toughness testing standard. In recent years, significant progresses of the J-integral fracture testing and experimental estimation have been achieved, and a part of them was accepted and updated in ASTM E1820. To better understand and use this fracture testing standard, the present paper gives a brief review of historical efforts and recent advances in the development of the J-integral experimental estimation and standard testing.


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