Ratcheting failure of pressurised straight pipes and elbows under reversed bending

Ratcheting studies were carried out on Type 304LN stainless steel straight pipes and elbows subjected to steady internal pressure and cyclic bending load. The internal pressure for all the straight pipes was 35 MPa and in the case of elbows the internal pressure was varied for different elbows, ranging from 27.6 MPa to 39.2 MPa. Cyclic bending load was applied on the specimens by subjecting them to different levels of load-line displacement. The specimens have undergone significant ratchet swelling (ballooning), ovalization and consequent thinning of the cross-section during ratcheting. The straight pipes failed either by occurrence of through-wall crack accompanied by simultaneous ballooning, or bursting with simultaneous ballooning. All the elbows failed by occurrence of through-wall crack accompanied by simultaneous ballooning. Ratcheting behaviour of straight pipes and elbows were compared and it was generally inferred that ratcheting was more pronounced in straight pipes than in elbows. -- Graphical abstract: Strain history for the specimen QCE-RAT-6-L1. Highlights: • Studies were carried out under combined internal pressure and cyclic bending. • Ratcheting strains were measured at critical locations of the specimens. • Quantified the percentage of ballooning, ovalization and reduction in thickness. • Modes of ratcheting failure of straight pipes and elbows are studied. • Inferred that ratcheting is more pronounced in straight pipes than in elbows