A PROBABILISTIC FRACTURE-MECHANICS ANALYSIS FOR CRACKED PIPE USING 3-D MODEL

For the purpose of probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) estimation b ased on elastic-plastic fracture mechanics (EPFM) in the field of reli ability analysis of pressure vessels and piping, a 3-D EPFM database o f fully plastic solutions for surface cracks and a PFM code for the in tegrity evaluation of nuclear structural components based on the above database are given. As an example, a comparison study of the PFM anal ysis is then performed between the 2-D and the 3-D solutions to demons trate the 3-D effects on the solutions.