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Fracture Mechanics Methods to Assess the Lifetime of Thermoplastic Pipes

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Deformation and Fracture Behaviour of Polymer Materials

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Materials Science ((SSMATERIALS,volume 247))

Abstract

When performing lifetime estimations using extrapolation concepts, it is vital to estimate the uncertainties which always accompany accelerated testing methods. Uncertainties may arise from deviating parameters such as changes in environmental conditions, temperature, different loading ratios, chemicals such as stress cracking agents, etc. Only when these influences are known it is justifiable to go into lifetime calculations. Own studies showed, that fracture mechanics extrapolation concepts for accelerated prediction of PE pressure pipes using short-time fatigue tests provide valid results when compared to pre-notched internal pipe pressure tests. The use of a cracked round bar (CRB) specimen for linear elastic fracture mechanic (LEFM) tests improves the results compared to classical compact tension (CT) specimens, which tend to overestimate lifetimes. This can mainly be attributed to bigger plastic zone sizes which restrict slow crack growth (SCG) in CT specimens. Another advantage is the similarity of constraint and K I-development between a pipe and CRB specimens. Summarising, the extrapolation concept using short-term fatigue tests on CRB specimens provides a valuable and valid tool to perform lifetime estimations for pipe systems made from high-density polyethylene (PE-HD) pipe materials. Further steps in the development of the approach using cyclic CRB Tests are currently under evaluation. For example, the implementation of influences due to media is an important addition, to be able to cover the area of media and crude oil transportation. The impact of crack growth initiation is also a topic which has yet to be addressed. So far it has often been neglected in lifetime estimations due to complex testing procedures. Also the use of the cyclic CRB Test for different polymeric pipe materials is currently examined. Seeing that only about a third of all thermoplastic pipes is produced from PE-HD material this is a logical next step. Besides lifetime estimation, the use of the cyclic CRB Tests at R = 0.1 is also discussed for ISO-standardisation for material quality control. Good correlations with established methods support its claim as a precise and fast ranking tool for PE-HD pipe grades.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Polymer Engineering and Science, Montan University Leoben, Leoben, Austria

    F. Arbeiter & G. Pinter

  2. Institute of Polymeric Materials and Testing, Johannes Keppler University Linz, Linz, Austria

    R. W. Lang

  3. Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH, Leoben, Austria

    G. Pinter & A. Frank

Authors
  1. F. Arbeiter
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  2. G. Pinter
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  3. R. W. Lang
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  4. A. Frank
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Engineering, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

    Wolfgang Grellmann

  2. Polymer Service GmbH Merseburg, Associated An-Institute of University of Applied Sciences Merseburg, Merseburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

    Beate Langer

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© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

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Arbeiter, F., Pinter, G., Lang, R.W., Frank, A. (2017). Fracture Mechanics Methods to Assess the Lifetime of Thermoplastic Pipes. In: Grellmann, W., Langer, B. (eds) Deformation and Fracture Behaviour of Polymer Materials. Springer Series in Materials Science, vol 247. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41879-7_3

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