Leak-Before-Break: What Does It Really Mean?

Leak-before-break (LBB) is a term that has been used for decades in reference to a methodology that means that a leak will be discovered prior to a fracture occurring in service. LBB has been applied to missile casings, gas and oil pipelines, pressure vessels, nuclear piping, etc. LBB also has several technical definitions. For instance, LBB can occur for an axial flaw in a pipe where the penetration of the wall thickness will result in a stable...