Fatigue Design Margin Evaluation for Carbon and Low-Alloy Steels by Reliability-Based Load and Resistance Factor Method

Author(s):  
Masahiro Takanashi ◽  
Makoto Higuchi ◽  
Junki Maeda ◽  
Shinsuke Sakai

This paper discusses the margins of the design fatigue curve in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes Section III from a reliability analysis point of view. It is reported that these margins were developed so as to cover uncertainties of fatigue data scatter, size effect, and surface condition[1], but the reasons for them remain unclear. In order to investigate the physical implications of the design margin, a probabilistic approach is taken for the collected fatigue data of carbon and low-alloy steels. In this approach, these three parameters are treated as random variables, and an applied stress is also taken into consideration as a random variable. For the analysis, to begin with, a limit state function for fatigue is proposed. Next, reliability index contours of the design fatigue curves for carbon and low-alloy steels are obtained based on the proposed limit state function. The contours indicate that the margins 2 on stress and 20 on life do not provide equal reliability. The margin 20 on life is more conservative and the margin became a minimum near intersections of the design curves with margins 2 on stress and 20 on life. For practical applications, the partial safety factors (PSF) for the target reliability are computed for all materials and several levels of coefficients of variation (COV) of the applied stress. A sensitivity analysis of the PSFs clarifies that only two parameters, the strength (or the life) and the applied stress, are predominant. Thus, the partial safety factors for these two parameters are proposed in a tabular form.

Author(s):  
Hideo Machida ◽  
Hiromasa Chitose ◽  
Manabu Arakawa

This paper describes the evaluation of partial safety factors (PSF’s) for parameters related to flaw evaluation of pipes which have a circumferential surface flaw, and proposes the important matter which should be pay attention in the setup of the safety factors used in flaw evaluation. PSF’s were evaluated considering randomness of flaw size, a fracture resistance curve (J-R curve) and applied loads using load and resistance factor design method (LRFD). The limit state function is expressed by fracture resistance (resistance-related parameter) and applied J integral (load-related parameter). The measure parameters in the reliability assessment are the flaw size and the J-R curve, and PSF’s of them are larger than those of applied loads. Since the material properties used in the flaw evaluation are generally set to the engineering lower limit of their variation (e.g., 95% lower confidence limit), variation of the flaw size is considered to have important role on flaw evaluation. Therefore, when setting up the safely factors used in Rules on Fitness-for-Service (FFS), it is necessary to take into consideration not only the influence of variation of loads or material strength but the influence of variation of flaw size.


Author(s):  
Takuyo Kaida ◽  
Shinsuke Sakai

Reliability analysis considering data uncertainties can be used to make a rational decision as to whether to run or repair a pressure equipment that contains a flaw. Especially, partial safety factors (PSF) method is one of the most useful reliability analysis procedure and considered in a Level 3 assessment of a crack-like flaw in API 579-1/ASME FFS-1:2016. High Pressure Institute of Japan (HPI) formed a committee to develop a HPI FFS standard including PSF method. To apply the PSF method effectively, the safety factors for each dominant variable should be prepared before the assessment. In this paper, PSF for metal loss assessment of typical pressure vessels are derived based on first order reliability method (FORM). First, a limit state function and stochastic properties of random variables are defined. The properties of a typical pressure vessel are based on actual data of towers in petroleum and petrochemical plants. Second, probability of failure in several cases are studied by Hasofer-Lind method. Finally, PSF’s in each target probability of failure are proposed. HPI published a new technical report, HPIS Z 109 TR:2016, that provide metal loss assessment procedures based on FORM and the proposed PSF’s described in this paper.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micheal Drass ◽  
Michael A. Kraus

Abstract This paper deals with the application of the semi-probabilistic design concept (level I, DIN EN 1990) to structural silicone adhesives in order to calibrate partial material safety factors for a stretch-based limit state equation. Based on the current legal situation for the application of structural sealants in façades, a new Eurocode-compliant design concept is introduced and compared to existing design codes (ETAG 002). This is followed by some background information on semi-probabilistic reliability modeling and the general framework of the Eurocode for the derivation of partial material safety factors at Level I. Within this paper, a specific partial material safety factor is derived for DOWSIL 993 silicone on the basis of experimental data. The data were then further evaluated under a stretch-based limit state function to obtain a partial material safety factor for that specific limit state function. This safety factor is then extended to the application in finite element calculation programs in such a way that it is possible for the first time to perform mesh-independent static calculations of silicone adhesive joints. This procedure thus allows for great optimization of structural sealant design with potentially high economical as well as sustainability benefits. An example for the static verification of a bonded façade construction by means of finite element calculation shows (i) the application of EC 0 to silicone adhesives and (ii) the transfer of the EC 0 method to the finite element method with the result that mesh-independent ultimate loads can be determined.


Author(s):  
Qiang Qu ◽  
Satoshi Izumi ◽  
Shinsuke Sakai

This paper investigates the applicability of a Fitness-For-Service (FFS) assessment of crack-like flaws using the Partial Safety Factors (PSFs) calculated from the infinite plate model. Procedures of FFS assessment using PSFs are provided in API579-1, and several PSFs calculated from an infinite plate are given to evaluate structures approximately for simplification. However, the applicability of these PSFs is not clear, and the safety margin cannot be evaluated precisely. To clarify the applicable region of these infinite plate PSFs in this paper, we calculate PSFs of various structures, crack geometries and load types and compare with those of the infinite plate. We also examine whether the target reliability is satisfied when infinite plate PSFs are applied to the concrete structures. In addition, we used sensitivity analysis to show the dependence of probabilistic properties on the safety margin. Both the limit state function method and the Monte Carlo simulation method are used for the analysis, and the limit state is defined by the Failure Assessment Diagram (FAD) curve. Finally, the relation between infinite plate PSFs’ applicability and probabilistic properties of structure, and crack geometries are discussed.


Author(s):  
Masahiro Takanashi ◽  
Jyunki Maeda ◽  
Shinsuke Sakai

In a previous paper[1], we discussed the margins of the design fatigue curve in ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes Section III using a probabilistic approach. Limit state functions of the design fatigue curve for carbon and low-alloy steels were proposed in order to investigate the physical implication of the design margin. In the limit state functions, four parameters, namely, fatigue data scatter, size effect, surface roughness, and applied stress were taken into consideration as random variables. Based on the limit state functions, reliability index contours of the design fatigue curve were obtained together with the partial safety factors (PSFs). Among these partial safety factors, the fatigue strength (or life) and the applied stress were predominant. The other parameters, the PSFs for the size effect and the surface roughness were small enough and almost constant. The parameter sensitivity, however, remains unknown and whether these parameters should be treated as constants or as random variables is also not clear. In this study, a probabilistic parameter sensitivity study on the design fatigue curve was conducted to discuss how the design fatigue curve should be. Two sensitivities were computed. One is the rate sensitivity indicating the contribution of the mean value of the parameter in the probability of failure. The other is the probabilistic sensitivity to parameter dispersion. The parameters for the size effect and the surface roughness showed lower probabilistic sensitivities. This result suggests that the parameters can be considered as constants. In general, a higher number of parameters in a probabilistic model leads to more uncertainty and the design concept tends to be more conservative. We, therefore, proposed to deal with the parameters of the size effect and the surface roughness separately in the design fatigue curve to eliminate conservativeness.


Author(s):  
Malek Brahimi ◽  
Sidi Berri ◽  
Joel Lopez

Studies of reliability in current practice indicate that reliability based on conventional methods requires a nonlinear transformation to a set of normal distributions, which effectively changes the shape of limit state function. In this paper, the general formulation of safety for aluminum elements and the associated methods of analysis are reviewed. Direct simulation is used to find the probability of failure. It is concluded that direct simulations of safety of aluminum elements of Pr (probability of failure) by failure counting is a good method to achieve acceptable safety factors.


2012 ◽  
Vol 532-533 ◽  
pp. 408-411
Author(s):  
Wei Tao Zhao ◽  
Yi Yang ◽  
Tian Jun Yu

The response surface method was proposed as a collection of statistical and mathematical techniques that are useful for modeling and analyzing a system which is influenced by several input variables. This method gives an explicit approximation of the implicit limit state function of the structure through a number of deterministic structural analyses. However, the position of the experimental points is very important to improve the accuracy of the evaluation of failure probability. In the paper, the experimental points are obtained by using Givens transformation in such way these experimental points nearly close to limit state function. A Numerical example is presented to demonstrate the improved accuracy and computational efficiency of the proposed method compared to the classical response surface method. As seen from the result of the example, the proposed method leads to a better approximation of the limit state function over a large region of the design space, and the number of experimental points using the proposed method is less than that of classical response surface method.


Author(s):  
Hideo Machida ◽  
Hiromasa Chitose ◽  
Tatsuhiro Yamazaki

This paper reports the results of the study on the failure modes and limit loads of piping in nuclear power plants subjected to cyclic seismic loading. By investigating the past fracture tests and earthquake resistance tests, it became clear that dominant failure mode of piping was fatigue, and the effect of ratchet strain was negligible. Until now, the stress generated with the acceleration of an earthquake was classified into the primary stress. However, the relationship between the input acceleration and the seismic response displacement of the pipe observed from earthquake resistance tests is non-linear, and increasing rate of displacement is lower than that of input acceleration in elastic-plastic stress condition. Therefore, the seismic loading can be treated as displacement controlled loading. To evaluate the reliability-based critical acceleration, a limit state function was defined taking the variations in the fatigue strength or some parameters into consideration. By using the limit state function, the reliability was evaluated for the typical piping of boiling water reactor (BWR) plants subjected to cyclic seismic loading, and a partial safety factors were calculated. Based on these results, a fatigue curve corresponding to the target reliability was proposed.


Author(s):  
Lixin Zhang ◽  
Zhijun Jian ◽  
Zhaohui Xu

A new method is proposed to tackle the huge computation cost involved in Successive Response Surface Methodology applied to the reliability analysis, in which Space Mapping technique is combined with Response Surface Methodology. While the new approach is performed, the limit state function is only fitted at the first iteration; at other iterations Space Mapping technique is employed to map the original limit state function into the new ones. Experimental design, corresponding model evaluations and response surface fitting of the limit state function are not done repetitively as what we do while SRSM is used, which leads to the great cutting down of computational efforts.


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