Evaluation of CTOD Resistance Curve Test Methods Using SENT Specimens

Abstract

Single edge-notched tension (SENT) specimens in clamped end conditions are widely adopted in the oil/gas industry to measure fracture resistance curves in terms of the J-integral or crack-tip opening displacement (CTOD) for the strain-based design and crack assessment of onshore and offshore pipelines. Typical CTOD-R curve test methods developed for SENT specimens include CanMet, ExxonMobil, and BS 8571 methods. While CanMet determines CTOD using the J-integral conversion method via one clip gage measurement, the other two infer CTOD directly from double clip gage measurements. ExxonMobil simply uses the total measured displacements to calculate CTOD, but BS 8571 separates CTOD into elastic and plastic parts to be determined, respectively, from the elastic K factor and the plastic component of measured displacements. It is unknown if these CTOD test methods determine comparable R-curves for a same SENT test, and what are the differences between these CTOD test methods. To answer those questions, this paper performs an experimental evaluation of the SENT CTOD test methods. A set of clamped SENT specimens are tested for pipeline steel X80 and structural steel A36. For each SENT test, the unloading compliance method and the double clip gage arrangement are used, and then CTOD-R curves obtained by different methods are evaluated. Evaluation results and conclusions are given for those SENT CTOD test methods.