Key Engineering Materials Vols. 297-300

Abstract: Systematic detailed non-linear finite element (FE) analysis are described for limit load interaction of piping branch junctions subjected to internal pressure and bending. The results show that for the tees with a small diameter ratio, the limit load interaction closes to the linear expression; as diameter ratio d/D increasing, the interaction relationship tends to parabolic equation; for the piping branch junction with diameter ratio equaling to unit, the limit load combinations is approximately quadratic. Compared to the individual limit bending value, internal pressure slightly increases the bending capability as it is in the range of 0.2£P/PL£0.4, especially for the cases of the main pipe with thinner wall. A closed limit load solution is obtained from the FE results through accommodating the geometrical parameter influence, and validated by using experimental results.

Abstract: Y-branch is often used in connection between a main pipe and two branch pipes, for example, in furnace, quench boiler, nuclear parts and so on. The stress distribution in the Y-branch is very complicated because of complicated shape and complex loads on it. The stresses in the Y-branches cannot be determined by theoretical equations. Finite element method is used to analyze the stresses in the Y-branches. As an example, a Y-branch used in a high temperature furnace is calculated with ANSYS software. The temperature distribution and elastic and elastic-plastic stress fields in the Y-branch under mechanical and thermal loads are calculated. Strength, creep and fatigue of the Y-branch are evaluated based on T-1300, T-1400 of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel code Sec Ⅲ Div 1 Subsection NH.

Abstract: For an actual crack growth in structures subjected to the applied stress from the various directions, it is important to study about the fatigue crack propagation behavior under mixed-mode condition. In particular under the condition, crack surfaces tend to contact when the load is applied because of the compressive residual stress distributed near the crack and the zigzag crack surface morphology. In this study, using slant cracks with compressive residual stress induced in mode I fatigue crack propagation under the stress ratio of R= –1 and 0, stress intensity factors (KI)est and (KII)est were evaluated from the measured crack opening and sliding displacements. As a result, the stress intensity factor (KII)est for the crack made under the stress ratio of R= –1 with the slant angle of 45 deg. was decreased owing to the crack surface contact, while (KI)est showed relatively large values in spite of compressive residual stress.

Abstract: Interfacial stress singularities induced in a laminate model consisting of the viscoelastic thin film and the elastic substrate have been investigated using the time-domain boundary element method. First, the interfacial singular stresses between the viscoelastic thin film and the elastic substrate subjected to a uniform moisture ingression have been investigated near the free surface, but without any edge crack. The thin film is assumed to be a linear viscoelastic material and moisture effects are assumed to be analogous to thermal effects. Then, the overall stress intensity factor for the case of a small interfacial edge crack of length a has been computed. The numerical procedure does not permit calculation of the limiting case for which the edge crack length vanishes.

Abstract: Mechanical behavior and fracture process of weld specimens were analyzed by finite element method. Three-dimensional butt-weld specimen was modeled by two-dimensional approaches. Welding residual stress in the models was obtained by carrying out thermo-mechanical calculation. To take into account straight boundary lines of real weld specimen, the finite element model was constructed by using an iterative method. Cohesive zone method was applied to analyze fatigue behavior of the models.

Abstract: Application of Hamilton’s theorem is limited to rigid body dynamics problems in spite of its benefit that always yield a set of first order differential equations as a model. From the fundamental formulation procedure, introduction of Hamilton’s principle to continuum problems differs from the traditional continuum modeling methodology that relies upon partial differential field equation. For the analysis of impact problems where highly nonlinear coupled models are norm, massively distributed computation schemes are usually employed and they significantly reduce computational cost and improve accuracy. With the parallel resources in mind, the present work applies Hamiltonian modeling approach to a shock propagation problem in continuous media. The formulated model which is in first order ordinary differential equations is efficiently calculated on a Beowulf based Linux parallel machines.

Abstract: In this study, the intrinsic static/dynamic fracture toughness of Al 7175-T74 is evaluated from the apparent static/dynamic fracture toughness of a notched specimen. A critical average stress fracture model is suggested to establish the relationship for predicting the intrinsic fracture toughness from the apparent fracture toughness of a notched specimen. The critical average stress fracture model is established using the relationship between the notch root radius and the effective distance calculated by finite element analysis. The effective distance is the major characteristic describing stress distributions ahead of the notch tip. Therefore, the effective distance can be used to evaluate the behavior of structures containing notches. In this study, effective distance is applied to estimate the failure criterion for the combustion chamber with a notch. It is concluded that the true fracture toughness can be estimated from test results of apparent fracture toughness measured by using a notched specimen. Also, the effective distance can be used to evaluate the failure criterion of structures with notches.

Abstract: As an advanced in-core material in high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), superplastic ceramics is attractive due to the possibility of the plastic working. For the application to the nuclear fields, the basic concept of design criteria was studied for typical superplastic ceramics, tetragonal zirconia polycrystals containing 3mol% yttria (3Y-TZP). The experimental results on 3Y-TZP showed that it is possible to apply the Weibull weakest-link theory to decide the stress limits in the criteria. The Weibull parameter m was evaluated as 9.5 for the bending and as 26.5 for the compressive. The applicability of the Weibull theory was also verified by the bending test results with different span. Based on the graphite structural design guidelines for the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR), the design stress limits for 3Y-TZP was proposed. It was shown that the proposed stress limits have appropriate safety margin and thought to be effective to evaluate the integrity of in-core structure made of 3Y-TZP.

Abstract: Fatigue crack propagation life of weld toe crack through residual stress field was estimated using Elber's crack closure concept. Propagation of weld toe crack is heavily influenced by residual stresses caused by the welding process, so it is essential to take into account the effect of residual stresses on the propagation life of a weld toe crack. Fatigue cracks at transverse and longitudinal weld toe was studied, these two cases represent the typical weld joints in ship structures. Numerical and experimental studies are performed for both cases. Residual stresses near the welding area were estimated through a nonlinear thermo-elasto-plastic finite element method and the residual stress intensity factor with Glinka's weight function method. Effective stress intensity factor was calculated using the Newman-Forman-de Koning-Henriksen equation, which is based on the Dugdale strip yield model in estimating the crack closure level, U, at different stress ratios. Calculated crack propagation life coincided well with experimental results.