Abstract
In many previous investigations, the mode I stress intensity factor has been usedalone to analyse and predict the life of cracked cylindrical components. In this article, three-dimensional elastic finite element method was used to analyse semi-elliptical cracks located in the stress concentration area of a nozzle–vessel junction. Stress intensity factors and T-stresses were calculated for different geometrical configurations of a semi-elliptical crack and nozzle–vessel junction under different external loading conditions. The influence of these various parameters and loading conditions on both the stress intensity factors and T-stress is discussed. Itis shown that, for many cases, the mode II stress intensity factor and T-stress are not negligible compared to the mode I stress intensity factor.
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