Recursive distribution method for probabilistic fracture mechanics

摘要

This paper proposes a new method for Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics (PFM). The present method gives a recursive formula for a joint probability distribution function of crack geometry, which is obtained from random variables of the initial crack geometry and a deterministic time-evolution law of the variables. A numerical example of Light Water Reactor (LWR)'s piping is solved by the present method, and the results are compared with those of the Monte Carlo (MC) method. It is clearly shown that both results agree sufficiently well, while CPU time of the present method is remarkably short.