Plastic collapse moment equations of throughwall axially cracked elbows subjected to combined internal pressure and in-plane bending moment

Abstract

Plastic collapse moment (PCM) equations of throughwall axially cracked (TAC) elbow subjected to in-plane closing/opening bending moment were previously proposed by the present authors. However, in actual situation, an elbow may often be subjected to combined internal pressure and bending moment loading. The present work investigates the effect of internal pressure on the in-plane plastic collapse moment of throughwall axially cracked elbows through 3-D elastic–plastic finite element analysis. Equations of un-pressurized cases are recommended where it is conservative and in other cases new equations are proposed.