Leakage and breakage estimation based on a net-stress approach for stainless steel pipes with circumferential cracks

Coolant leakage and breakage external loads for stainless steel pipes with circumferentially part-through cracks are predicted by the mechanical properties of pipe materials. In addition, the predicted loads at leaks and breaks are compared with other net-stress approaches. The plastic limit load criterion, a traditional and convenient method, is found to give an overly conservative estimation for shallow cracks and to be nonconservative for 60-80% wall-thickness cracks. (orig.)