Development of EPFM Procedure for Axially Flawed Pipe Using Z Factor Based on CVN

Abstract

Evaluation procedures on an allowable axial flaw in a pipe for fully plastic fracture is provided by limit load criteria in Appendix C-5000 of the ASME Code Section XI. However, flaw evaluation for ductile fracture using EPFM (Elastic Plastic Fracture Mechanics) criteria is not provided for axial flaw in the Appendix. Methodology of the flaw evaluation for ductile fracture using EPFM criteria is discussing at the Working Group on Pipe Flaw Evaluation of ASME Code Section XI. Many failure experiments on axially flawed pressurized pipes made of moderate toughness materials had been performed at Battelle Columbus Laboratories. Semi-empirical equations for predicting failure stresses were developed from these experiments. This paper describes a derivation of load multiplier, Z factor, based on Charpy V notch upper shelf energy (CVN) from failure stresses for moderate toughness materials based on the experiments, and proposes a flaw evaluation procedure to determine allowable axial flaw for a ductile fractured pipe using the EPFM criteria.