Fracture Mechanics Assessment of a Cracked 16-Inch Inner Diameter 1945 Vintage-Jacketed Pressure Vessel

Abstract

A fracture mechanics assessment of the structural integrity of a very large 1945 vintage pressure vessel has been performed. Many of these old vessels had not been used for several years and have only recently been returned to service. After a relatively short number of pressure cycles, long, but shallow, longitudinal cracks were found in the vessels. The fracture assessment included the development of a stress intensity factor solution for the vessel using finite elements, and the measurement of both the fracture toughness and fatigue crack propagation rates for the two steels from which the line of the vessel was made. A wide range expression was fit to the numerically determined stress intensity factor solution and was used to determine the remaining life of the vessel. Failure of the pressure vessel was assumed to be through fracture of the liner. The results indicate that this vessel has a significant remaining fatigue life. (EDC)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA219135

Entities

People

  • J. A. Kapp
  • J. J. Zalinka
  • M. D. Witherell
  • R. R. Fujczak
  • T. M. Hickey

Organizations

  • United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Crack Propagation
  • Cracks
  • Fatigue Life
  • Fracture (Mechanics)
  • High Pressure
  • Intensity
  • Internal Pressure
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Mechanics
  • Military Research
  • Pressure Vessels
  • Stress Analysis
  • Stress Intensity Factors
  • Stresses
  • Test Methods
  • Toughness

Readers

  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.