Quantification of the toughness distribution in a heavy section submerged arc multilayer reactor pressure vessel weidment

This paper presents the application of two simplified estimations of J on a complete set of finite element results performed on pipes. The simplified method J(SA16) developed by the CEA and the simplified method J(R6) are applied on a pipe containing a circumferential axisymetric internal defect and on a pipe containing a circumferential semi-elliptic external defect. The pipes are subjected to simple or combined mechanical and thermal loading: internal pressure, axial load, global bending moment and linear thermal gradient through the thickness. The rvalues predicted by the two simplified methods were compared to those calculated by finite element. © 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.