A critical survey on the application of plastic fracture mechanics to nuclear pressure vessels and piping

Plastic fracture mechanics techniques have been developed to treat the regime where extensive plastic deformation and stable crack growth occur prior to fracture instability in the tough ductile materials used in nuclear systems. As described in this paper, a large number of crack tip parameters can be used in a plastic fracture resistance curve approach. However, applications using the J-integral currently predominate. This parameter has significant advantages. It offers computational ease and can provide a lower bound estimate of the fracture condition. But, J also has a disadvantage in that only a limited amount of stable crack growth can be accommodated. The crack tip opening angle parameter, in contrast, can be valid for extensive stable crack growth. But, with it and most other realistic alternatives, the computational convenience associated with the J-integral is lost and finite element or other numerical methods must be employed. Other possibilities such as the two-criterion approach and the critical net section stress are also described in the paper. In addition, current research work focussed upon improving the theoretical basis for the subject is reviewed together with related areas such as dynamic plastic analyses for unstable crack propagation/arrest and creep crack growth at high temperatures. Finally, an application of plastic fracture mechanics to stress corrosion cracking of nuclear piping is made which indicates the possible anti-conservative nature of the current linear elastic assessments.