ASME BPVC Fatigue Analysis

The document discusses ASME BPVC.VIII.2 – Part 5.5, which provides guidance on fatigue analysis and protection against failure from cyclic loading. It outlines three key aspects: 1) accurate FEA stress results are critical, 2) the code provides fatigue curves and guidance on treating welds based on type, inspection, and surface quality, and 3) the fatigue-strength-reduction factor, which multiplies stresses, depends on weld quality from 4.0 for unfinished welds to 1.0 for smooth, inspected welds.

Uploaded by

lorenzo

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

0% found this document useful (0 votes)

188 views7 pages

ASME BPVC Fatigue Analysis

Uploaded by

lorenzo

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

You are on page 1/ 7

ASME BPVC.VIII.2 – Part 5.

5: Protection Against Failure from Cyclic Loading

ASME BPVC Fatigue Analysis – Part 5.5: Protection Against Failure from Cyclic Loading
Even with an academic and experimental background in fatigue analysis, it is daunting to provide a hard, no-nonsense
life-cycle prediction. It is especially daunting when your fatigue prediction can cost or save your client millions of
dollars. As for seeking an easy way out with “fatigue software”, it can just mean a black-box solution where one off-
loads their reputation and hopes for the best.
Over the years, we have learned that there are three critical components to a quality fatigue analysis: i.) accurate FEA
stress results, ii.) accurate FEA stress results and iii.) accurate FEA stress results. Okay, sad, old, real-estate joke about
location, location, and location; but let us just imagine that your stress numbers are good, then what? Fatigue analysis
is all about the protection of structures and systems against failure from cyclic loading. This is where the ASME Boiler &
Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) provides a tried and true standard that, if your stress numbers are good, then you can be
assured that your fatigue prediction will be conservative.
Besides providing robust fatigue curves, the Code provides explicit guidance on how to treat welds based on type,
inspection and surface quality. For example, if the weld is completely un-inspected and un-finished, then it earns a
fatigue-strength-reduction factor of 4.0, which means your FEA stress numbers are multiplied by 4.0 prior to the
calculation of fatigue cycles per the ASME curve. In contrast, if a full penetration weld is ground to smooth profile and
then fully-inspected (volumetric and surface examinations) , then the fatigue-strength-reduction factor is 1.0. The
ASME code makes clear that it is not saying that the weld material is as good as the base material, but merely that the
ASME fatigue curves are still accurate.
The ASME fatigue method was recently used to confirm cyclic fatigue damage and to guide subsequent design
revisions. From an engineer’s perspective, it was a very satisfying journey since the Code provided clear guidance on
how to treat welded and non-welded sections. The projects have been completed and now we wait to see what
happens. Nothing is perfect and one never truly knows with fatigue, but at least following the ASME “Protection
Against Failure from Cyclic Loading” we are not flying alone.