Reference loads for plates with semi-elliptical surface cracks subjected to tension and bending for application within R6 type flaw assessment

摘要

Two of the authors of the present paper proposed a definition of a reference load F_0 which can be used as an alternative option to the common limit load for cases where the defini tion of the latter might be problematic in the frame of flaw assessment procedures such as R6, BS 7910, S1NTAP or FITNET. The reference load is defined as that load at which the lig ament yielding parameter L_r approaches one. F_0, in general, varies along the crack front. It has to be obtained by finite element analyses but the results can be approximated by ana lytical expressions. In a previous study of the authors such a solution was presented for tension loaded plates with semi-elliptical surface cracks. In the present paper it is extended to pure bending and to combined bending and tension.