Assessment of the Limiting Pressure in a Pipe T-Junction with a Longitudinal Surface Defect in the Main Pipe Under Ductile Fracture Conditions

An analytical model for assessment of the limit plastic state of a pipe branch T-junction subjected to the internal pressure loading with a longitudinal surface defect of constant depth located at the outer surface of the main pipe in the branch pipe welding zone is proposed. The comparative analysis of the theoretical calculated results on the internal pressure with the test results obtained for full-scale notched pipe T-junctions statically loaded until failure is provided.