V-factor estimation under thermal and mechanical stress for circumferentially cracked cylinder

This paper provides V-factor estimation under combined mechanical and thermal load for circumferential cracks. Results are based on fmite element analyses and effect of types and magnitudes of the thermal stress, crack geometry, the loading mode and plastic strain hardening on variations of the V-factor are investigated. The results of finite element analyses are compared with R6 values. As a result, it is shown that R6 gives generally conservative results. The conservatism is especially increased for the combination of large mechanical and thermal load. As a result, new estimation method which uses failure assessment line in R6 is proposed for V-factor and gives less conservative results.