Some common portable aluminium gas cylinders have shown a tendency to develop cracking. This cracking has in some cases led to leaks and on occasions to violent and sometimes fatal failures. There are a number of features of this cracking which have not been explained properly. Previous estimates of the growth rate of these cracks under sustained load been developed from specimen testing. As shown in this paper these data predict crack growth rates which are too slow, by very large factors, when considered in light of actual failures that have been observed. It also appears that crack growth can be rapid even in cylinders with low levels of lead. This paper presents a numerical simulation of the growth of cracks in aluminium cylinders based on local stresses in vicinity of crack edge. This information is related to cracks actually found in cylinders that have leaked or failed in service. From this procedure an equation for the crack growth rate is developed which is much higher that determined from small specimen testing. This paper concludes that additional factors, which have not been replicated adequately in testing, must influence crack growth rates.
Crack growth in aluminium cylinders
International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping ; 77 , 13 ; 831-836
2000
6 Seiten, 14 Quellen
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch
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