A Flaw Proximity Rule for Interacting Surface Cracks Based on Elastic-Plastic Fracture Analysis

When multiple cracks approach one another, the stress intensity factor and J-integral value of cracks are likely to change due to the interaction of the stress field. Since the changes in these parameters are not always conservative in structural reliability evaluations, the interaction between multiple cracks should be taken into account. Section XI of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code provides a flaw characterization rule for interacting multiple cracks. In Section XI, adjacent cracks are replaced with a coalesced single crack when the distance between the cracks is less than half of the crack depth. However, the criterion for the offset distance is given as an absolute value, although the magnitude of the interaction depends on the crack size. In the current study, an alternative criterion for the offset distance was examined. Elastic-plastic analyses were performed for interacting semicircular and semi-elliptical surface cracks by the finite element method under a tensile and bending load. The change in the J-integral values due to the relative spacing of cracks was investigated. Based on the relationship between the magnitude of the interaction and the relative position of the cracks, the allowable condition for the offset distance was discussed.