Failure diagrams for subcritical crack growth

Failure diagrams help evaluate safe use, require monitoring or replacement of structural components subjected to service loads based on the material properties. They are commonly used in the pipeline industry as failure assessment diagrams based on the fracture toughness data and Yield Stress. Failure diagrams could help evaluate the fatigue life or crack growth leading to failure of a component subject to fluctuating loads experienced during the service environment. Understanding the subcritical crack growth behavior, its quantification, and application to components in service are essential. In the following, basic understanding and the development of these failure diagrams using Kitagawa-Takahashi plots and the two-parametric approach that we have developed in the past are discussed, taking several examples from the literature.

Automated summary

Failure diagrams are essential for evaluating the safe use of structural components under service loads and determining the need for monitoring or replacement. They help assess fatigue life or crack growth caused by fluctuating loads, providing early warning of failure. Understanding subcritical crack growth behavior and its application in components is crucial.