Abstract
The prediction of crack opening behavior for cracked pipes subjected to an actual loading is essential to prove the Leak-Before-Break concept for Light Water Reactor piping. The pressure loading under the normal operating condition induces bending moment due to the eccentricity of the neutral axis from the pipe centerline. The current crack opening behavior is analyzed for a cracked pipe element that allows free rotation at the ends of the pipe. Considering a boundary condition of real piping system, however, the ends of the pipe will be restrained from free rotation. And the amount of the restraint will affect the carack opening displacement. In this paper, the effect of the restraint on the crack opening displacement of the cracked pipes is analytically examined.
