Assessment Procedure for Multiple Cracklike Flaws in Failure Assessment Diagram (FAD)

Abstract

Assessment of multiple discrete cracklike flaws is one of the most common problems relating to pressure vessels and piping components. Under the current fitness for service (FFS) rules, such as ASME, BS, and so on, multiple cracklike flaws are usually recharacterized as an enveloping crack (defined as a single larger crack), following their assessment rules. The procedure, however, varies significantly in these FFS codes. In this paper, the interaction between nonaligned multiple unequal cracks is clarified by applying the body force method. Based on the interaction that indicates the magnification and shielding effects and the reference stress solutions, a newly developed assessment procedure for multiple discrete cracklike flaws in the failure assessment diagram is proposed.