Numerical simulation of stress corrosion cracking in a pipe using s-version FEM

Fracture in heat affected zone (HAZ) in welding has been a serious problem for the integrity of machines. Prediction of fracture behavior due to the residual stress field in HAZ is important. In this paper, S-Version FEM(S-FEM) is applied to simulate the crack growth under thermal and residual stress fields. For evaluation of stress intensity factor, virtual crack closure integral method (VCCM) is employed. The residual stress data was provided by JAEA, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, based on their numerical simulation. SCC crack growth of a surface crack at inner suface of a pipe under thermal residual stress is simulated in three-dimensional filed. Distributions of residual stress is not axi-symmetric along pipe wall, and it affects the crack growth behavior. Ttwo cases, for axi-symmetric and non-symmetric thermal stress distributions, are assumed and crack growth behaviors are obtaiend and discussed.