Destruction of high pressure vessels in pipeline structures

The article indicates that engineering design criteria do not provide measures to prevent failures; this is evidenced by the occurrence of many accidents. Fracture prevention criteria should be derived from the principles of fracture mechanics, what should be developed further. However, the current concepts of fracture mechanics, when properly applied, provide an opportunity to ensure the reliability of the structure or organise the supervision of expensive structures to ensure their safe operation. These methods of preventing damage can be divided into two large groups: 1) checking for the formation of cracks and 2) monitoring their development. Both methods are based on similar principles; it would be easier to explain them with examples. To ensure the safe operation of the pressure vessel used in the reactor, the maximum allowable initial crack size should be known. The size of this crack should not expand to a critical point during the entire operation of the reactor. Knowing how the process of crack propagation proceeds and how the structure behaves during failure, it is possible to calculate the critical size of the defect and, based on this, calculate the maximum allowable size of the crack at the beginning of operation. Proper inspection of the new vessel will eliminate the possibility of shells that are larger than the original size. Checking for the presence of cracks, and determining their rate of growth during operation, presents significant difficulties. Therefore, checks should be avoided during operation. If the fracture and crack growth calculations, as well as the initial checks, are carried out correctly, then checks made during operation are an optional extra. However, in practice, such checks should still be performed. For vessels used in reactors, remote observation of crack growth using ultrasonic waves is a particularly useful method. If a crack is found, measures must be taken to either repair or replace the partially destroyed element.