Calculation of Critical Defect Length as per AS 2885.

1-2012
Background
When the axial length of a defect in the pipe wall exceeds a limiting value, the defect will grow and the pipe
will rupture.
This critical defect length is calculated using a method outline in AS2885.1-2012 Section 4.8.5.

Inputs (then click solve):

Diameter
Wall thickness

D
tW

MAOP (select units)

Pipe grade

Grade:

Critical Defect Length

CDL

8 c
K 2=
C

flow2

lnsec

219.1 mm
7.2 mm
3.5 MPa
API 5L Gr B

329.9 mm

M T H
. . . AS2885 . 1 eqn 4 . 8. 5
2 flow

This needs to be solved for the critical defect length 2 c

Rearranging for c gives:
1000 K 2
C
c=
M T H
8 lnsec
2
flow
2 flow
where:

K C = the stress intensification factor ( MPa mm ), estimated from the Charly V Notch test:
C E
K 2= V . . . eqn 4 . 8. 5 . 5, where C V = the Charpy V-Notch average value at 0 C = 27 J
C
AC
E= Youngs Elastic Modulus = 207,000MPa
A C = Fracture area of Charpy V-Notch specimen = 80mm
K 2=69862. 5 MPa/mm2
C

flow = flow stress ( MPa )=( SMYS+SMTS) /2

PD
H = hoop stress =
2 tw

c2
c4
M T = Folias Factor = 1+1 . 255
0 . 0135
Dt w
Dt w
2
2

1
2

( )

Folias Factor:
Folias Factor

MT

5.313

Flow stress and Hoop stress:

Y
SMYS
U
UTS

241 MPa
414 MPa

Flow stress

flow

Hoop stress

327.5 MPa
53 MPa

Solving for (half) critical defect length:

lnsec

M T H
=
2 flow

1000 K
8

C2

1.5506472

255.78873

flow 2

CDL/2 = c

165.0 mm

Guess for c for using "Excel

Goal Seek" function

cguess

165.0 mm

Difference between Guess

and calculated c Aim to "Goal
Seek" = 0
c-cguess
Therefore:
Critical Defect Length

CDL

329.9 mm

ting value, the defect will grow and the pipe

AS2885.1-2012 Section 4.8.5.

Lookup Table
Pipe Grade SMYS
API 5L A25
172

To calculate the stress instensification factor:

CV
Charpy v-notch avge
27 J
Young's Modulus

E
AC

Fracture area
Stress intensification factor

KC

207,000 Mpa
80 mm
2

. 8. 5

h 2c

, estimated from the Charly V Notch test:

py V-Notch average value at 0 C = 27 J

207,000MPa
-Notch specimen = 80mm

1
2

69,863 MPa /mm

2

API 5L Gr A

207

API 5L Gr B

241

API 5L X42
API 5L X46
API 5L X52
API 5L X56
API 5L X60
API 5L X65
API 5L X70
API 5L X80
Other

290
317
359
386
414
448
483
551

UTS
310
331
414
414
434
455
490
517
531
565
620