Continuing Development of a Simplified Method to Account for the Interaction of Primary and Secondary Stresses

Abstract

The R6 defect assessment procedure, used commonly in the UK nuclear industry to assess the significance of defects in structures, uses the Failure Assessment Diagram to evaluate limiting parameters whilst accounting for the effects of plasticity. The interaction of primary and secondary stress is accounted for within R6 through the use of the ρ, or an equivalent V, term. ‘Look-up’ tables are provided in order to evaluate parameters required to derive the ρ or V terms. In some circumstances, the current methodology has been shown to be excessively conservative and the use of the ‘look-up’ tables is somewhat complex and cumbersome anyway. Previous work has shown that an Alternative Method derived from the Time-Dependent Failure Assessment Diagram approach of the R5 high temperature procedure could potentially be considered. This has since been further modified and termed the Simplified Method. This Simplified Method has the benefit of being less conservative than the current R6 method and of not requiring ρ (or V) factors, and hence not requiring the use of the ‘Look-up’ tables. This paper presents the Simplified Method through comparisons within an extended range of Finite Element Analyses upon both an axial and circumferentially cracked pipe and a centre cracked plate. In addition to the use of the Simplified Method, further work is presented in order to include both out of plane primary and secondary stresses when determining the combined reference stress. A full range of crack opening and out of plane forces, as well as a full range of thermally induced secondary stresses, have been included to provide a broad basis upon which to compare the different methods investigated. Through comparing the full range of cases, some of the assumptions made within the R6 procedure have been reassessed. This has led to an average characteristic length, a¯, being defined to account for differences in loading type and in and out of plane ratios. However, within this paper further positive evidence for the use of the Simplified Method has been demonstrated.