Plastic limit load analysis for pressure pipe with incomplete welding defects based on the extended Net Section Collapse Criteria

With von Mises yield criterion, the loading range of Net Section Collapse (NSC) Criteria is extended from combined tension and bending loadings to combined bending, torsion and internal pressure loadings. A new theoretical analyzing method of plastic limit load for pressure pipe with incomplete welding defects based on the extended NSC Criteria is presented and the correlative formulas are deduced, the influences of pipe curvature, circumferential length and depth of incomplete welding defects on the plastic limit load of pressure pipe are considered as well in this method. Meanwhile, according to the orthogonal experimental design method, the plastic limit loads are calculated by the finite element method and compared with the theoretical values. The results show that the expressions of plastic limit load of pressure pipe with incomplete welding defects under bending, torsion and internal pressure based on extended NSC criteria are reliable. The study provides an important theoretical basis for the establishment of safety assessment measure towards pressure pipe with incomplete welding defects.