FATIGUE LIFE SIMULATION OF PIPELINE ELBOW UNDER CYCLIC LOADING

摘要

This paper presents a numerical study of plastic hardening models used in the fatigue life simulation of a pipeline elbow under cyclic loading. To determine more accurate stress, strain and fatigue life of the pipeline elbow experiencing cyclic loading, material strain hardening and Bauschinger effects need to be considered in a numerical simulation. Therefore, the isotropic, kinematic and combined isotropic/kinematic hardening models are adopted in the elastic-plastic finite element analysis (FEA) of a benchmark beam and a case study of elbow in cyclic loading. With the FEA numerical results and selected fatigue resistance models, fatigue life of the elbow is predicted for each plastic hardening model. Finally, an appropriate model to predict fatigue life of the elbow is recommended.