ESTS1049 NRCPIPES.

1. NAME OR DESIGNATION OF PROGRAM:  NRCPIPES.

3. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM OR FUNCTION

The NRCPIPES software is designed to perform elastic and elastic-plastic fracture mechanics analysis for a circumferential surface cracked pipe, i.e., to establish the fracture-failure condition in terms of sustainable load (or stress) or displacement. The NRCPIPES software also includes several evaluation procedures and acceptance criteria for circumferential surface flaws based on the ASME Boiler and Pressure  Vessel Code, Section XI criteria, the British R6 Revision 3 Option 1 criteria, and the original Net-Section-Collapse (limit-load) analysis.

4. METHOD OF SOLUTION

The fracture mechanics analysis in NRCPIPES is  based on J-integral estimation schemes, the R6 Option 1 method, the  SC.TNP, SC.TKP, and SC.ENG J-estimation scheme methods developed at  Battelle, and the Battelle Dimensionless Plastic-Zone Parameter (DPZP) method. The ASME allowable calculations are based on Rules of ASME Section XI, Division I, Appendices H and C and on Code Case N-494-2 of the Acceptance Standards of IWB-3514.2, Section XI, Division I, ASME. The original Net-Section-Collapse (limit-load) analysis is also included. The software is constructed in a modular  manner.

5. RESTRICTIONS ON THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROBLEM

NRCPIPES requires 512 KB of conventional memory and an organized structure. Software can only be executed from the main NRCPIPES/VER2 directory.
J-resitance curve may be defined of atmost 40 crack growth and J-mat pairs.

6. TYPICAL RUNNING TIME

Run time requirements depend highly on the type of PC but all runs require a few seconds.

7. UNUSUAL FEATURES OF THE PROGRAM

NRCPIPES is mainly an interactive  system with the user guided through a series of friendly menus. The  J-estimation schemes provide a quick fracture mechanics analysis compared to more costly and time consuming methods such as finite element methods (numerical methods).

8. RELATED AND AUXILIARY PROGRAMS

The original version of the software was developed for a VAX computer and contained other types  of crack geometries and structures such as a center-cracked panel, etc. No other software required.

10. REFERENCES:

- NRCPIPES (Version 2.0a), A Personal Computer Code for
Circumferential Surface Cracked Piping Fracture Mechanics Analysis
User's Guide (March 6, 1995)

11. MACHINE REQUIREMENTS

IBM personal computer and compatibles. DOS operating system (2.0 or higher).

13. OPERATING SYSTEM UNDER WHICH PROGRAM IS EXECUTED:  DOS and Windows.

14. OTHER PROGRAMMING OR OPERATING INFORMATION OR RESTRICTIONS

In
order to execute the NRCPIPES program, the user must be in the NRCPIPES/VER2 directory. NRCPIPES cannot be executed from other directories or sub-directories. During execution, the user may use other directories to supply/store input-output data.
Source code is included only in the manual.

15. NAME AND ESTABLISHMENT OF AUTHORS

   N. Ghadiali, G. Wilkowski, F. Brust, P. Scott, P. Krishnaswamy,
   S. Rahman
   Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (United States)

NRCPIPES executable file
*.LEM files contain the definition of linear extrapolated modified J-Resistance
curves
*.PLD files contain the definition of power law extrapolated deformation
J-Resistance curves
Output files
Screen output files
Input files for the sample problem calculation
Documentation in PDF format