Stress Intensity Factor and Elastic COD for Circumferential Through-Wall Cracks in the Interface Between an Elbow and a Straight Pipe Under Internal Pressure

Leak-Before-Break (LBB) is one of important approaches applied to nuclear piping design. In the LBB assessment, it is important to evaluate crack instability and to predict leak rate based on a fracture mechanics concept, in which an idealized straight pipes with through-wall cracks (TWCs) are generally considered in the typical LBB analysis. On the other hand, in nuclear piping system, elbows are often connected with straight pipes by welding,...