Compound cracks in pipes under combined bending and tension

Limit load and J-resistance curve solutions are developed for a compound crack in a pipe under combined tension and bending. The solution is based on a thick-walled cylinder assumption and the J solution can be applied with load-displacement data from one pipe test. Material resistance curves are developed for compound cracks in Type-304 stainless steel, Inconel 600 and A106 GrB base materials and a 304 stainless steel TIG weld. Tearing instability analyses are performed to assess the load-carrying capacity of pipes containing compound cracks and to evaluate nonconservatism associated with the use of C(T) specimen J-R data.