Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Cracking intensity'

Vickers hardness indentations on AI2O3 were studied comprehensively. Beneath indentation, there is a well-defined interface between the plastic zone and the elastic region and the radius of the plastic zone is close to half the indentation diagonal length. The residual stress field around the indentations has been measured by optical fluorescence microscope (FLM) scans. Yoffe's stress model predicted higher stresses than the experimental stress results. the radial crack lengths were measured by FLM scans, and the optical microscope (OM) and SEM methods for crack length measurements were found to significantly underestimate the crack lengths. Post indentation slow crack growth was found on the radial cracks were determined. The radial-median crack system was found for alumina indentations. Lateral cracks were also found for all the indentations, and their depths were close to the half diagonal lengths. the lateral cracks joined the tips of the radial cracks and had the similar growth rates to the radial cracks. The indentation parameters of SiC and 3Y-TZP indentations were also measured. Lateral cracking was observed beneath in SiC indentations but not in case of 3Y-TZP. The depth of the lateral crack of the SiC indentation was found to be close to the half diagonal length. the residual stresses and surface profiles around SiC and 3Y-TZP indentations were measured. the lateral crack lengths of the SiC determined from the surface profiles were close to the radial crack lengths. For TZP indentations, the highest volume fraction of the monoclinic zirconia phase was found near the edge of the indentations. Surface uplifts around indentations were found to have the profiles matching with distributions of the volume fraction of the monoclinic phase. A new Vickers indentation residual stress model has been presented using assumptions based on the experimental findings on alumina indentations. The main novelty of the model is that it predicts the stresses in the presence of cracking, and is therefore testable. The residual stress model has successfully predicted the stress fields around the polycrystalline alumina and SiC indentations but failed on TZP indentations because of the lack of lateral cracking and the tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation. From the residual stress model, a new formula for the indentation stress intensity factor K was derived, which provided good results for threshold stress intensity factor, K10, on alumina, and fracture toughness, KIC, for SiC, and Si3N4. Three adjustable parameters can be added to strengthen existing model.

The objective of this study is to present the mode I stress intensity factor distribution (SIF) along the crack-front for a wide array of semicircular and semi-elliptical surface cracks inside of a pressurized thick-walled cylinder. A three-dimensional finite element package ANSYS is used to evaluate the SIF for multicracked cylinder with number of cracks from n=1 to 128, the ratio of crack-depth to the wall thickness a/t=0.05 to 0.6, the ellipticity of the crack (the crack-depth to the semi-crack length) a/c=0.2 to 1.5, the ratio of the outer to the inner radius ro/ ri=2. A substructuring technique is introduced which solved a coarse model meshed with ten-node isoparametric elements and applied the resulting displacements in the boundary surface of a submodel which is built employing singular elements along the crack-front to produce the 1/√r singularity . The SIF is evaluated using nodal-displacement method. To validate the modeling and analysis procedure of the present results various configurations were solved using this method and compared to other finite element solutions. The present results were in very good agreement: less than 5 % comparing with Raju and Newman's results and within 8 % of Kirkhope's results. An empirical equation to calculate the maximum SIF, was developed in this study. The equation was obtained by nonlinear fitting of the finite element results and the error was within ± 5.7 %.

Thermally cycling a thin plate of nickel-based superalloy with an intense in-plane thermal gradient, or hot spot, produces thermally induced crack growth not represented by classic thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF). With the max hot spot temperature at 1093 C (2000 F) of a 1.5 mm thick, 82.55 mm diameter circular plate of B-1900+Hf, annular buckling and bending stresses result during each thermal cycle which drive the crack initiation and propagation. A finite element analysis (FEA) model, using ANSYS 7.1, has been developed which models the buckling and as well as represents the stress intensity at simulated crack lengths upon cool down of each thermal cycle. The model approximates the out-of-plane response at heat-up within 5% error and a difference in the final displacement of 0.185 mm after twelve thermal cycles. Using published da/dN vs. Keff data, the number of cycles needed to grow the crack to the experimental arrest distance is modeled within 1 mm. The number of cycles to this point is within 5 out of 462 in comparison to the experimental test.

No presente trabalho foi estudado o comportamento de um aço inoxidável austenítico do sistema Fe-Cr-Mn-N, nas condições como recebido, solubilizado e sensitizado, quando submetidos à meios contendo cloretos. Para analisar a suscetibilidade à corrosão sob tensão foram utilizados corpos de prova dos tipos DCB (\"Double Cantilever Beam\") e C(T) (\"Compact- Tension\"), pré-trincados em fadiga, com entalhes laterais e carregados com cunhas. Os meios empregados foram as soluções aquosas 45% em peso de MgCl2 na temperatura de ebulição de 154°C, água do mar sintética na temperatura ambiente e de ebulição de 100°C e 3,5% em peso de NaCI na temperatura ambiente. A suscetibilidade à corrosão sob tensão foi avaliada em termos do fator limite de intensidade de tensão, KISCC, e foram caracterizados os aspectos fractográficos dos corpos de prova em que ocorreram propagação de trinca por corrosão sob tensão. Foi verificado que apenas os corpos de prova do aço E3949 nas condições como recebido e sensitizado, foram suscetíveis à corrosão sob tensão em solução aquosa de 45% em peso de MgCl2 na temperatura de ebulição. Também foi determinado o comportamento eletroquímico do material nas condições citadas acima com relação aos meios empregados. Os resultados das curvas de polarização obtidas mostraram que o material apresenta baixa resistência à corrosão, principalmente em meios de MgCl2.
The present work studies the stress corrosion cracking behavior in austenitic Fe-Cr-Mn-N stainless steel, in as received, solubilized and sensitized conditions, when submited to several chlorides environments. To evalued the stress corrosion cracking susceptibility, DCB (\"Double Cantilcver Beam\") and C(T) (\"Compact- Tension\") specimens, fatigue precracked, side grooved and wedge loaded were used. The environments employed were boiling solution of 45 wt% of MgCl2 at 154ºC, synthetic sea water at room and 100°C temperatures, and a solution with 3,5 wt% of NaCI at room temperature. The susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking has been evaluated in terms of the threshold stress intensity factor, KISCC, and the fracture surface appearance of those specimens whose the crack propagation took place was characterized. The results showed that only the specimens in the as received and sensitized conditions, were suceptible to the stress corrosion cracking effect in the solution with 45 wt% of MgCl2 at the boilling temperature. Also, it has been verified the electrochemical behavior of this steel when submited in the above environments. The results of polarization curves showed that the material presents low corrosion strength, mainly in MgCl2 environments.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Keywords: Microstructure; Elastic-Plastic Fracture Mechanics; Crack closure; A356; J-integral; Conventionally cast and SSM Al-Si-Mg alloys; Residual stress; Heat treatment; Fatigue crack growth mechanisms; Threshold stress intensity factor; Plastic zone; Paris law; Fracture toughness; Roughness. Includes bibliographical references.

La compréhension du comportement de structures jusqu'à leur ruine est nécessaire pour concevoir au mieux ces structures. Selon le matériau et les sollicitations considérées, les mécanismes physiques à l'origine de la rupture changent. Nous nous intéresserons à des matériaux homogènes pour lesquels la ruine passe par le développement de fissures autour desquelles les non-linéarités de comportement n'ont pas un rôle dominant. Ces conditions sont réunies pour les matériaux fragiles pour lesquels la source principale de dissipation est la génération non réversible d'une surface libre, et pour certaines fissures de fatigue. Sur un cycle de chargement, il existe de nombreuses applications pour lesquelles les non-linéarités restent confinées. La théorie de la mécanique linéaire élastique de la rupture est alors un modèle pertinent pour approcher le comportement de la structure. Sous ces hypothèses, le front de la fissure introduit une singularité. L'étude asymptotique de cette singularité dans des situations plane et anti-plane permet de définir les séries de Williams. La singularité est alors d'ordre un demi et elle est quantifiée par les facteurs d'intensité des contraintes (FIC) pour chacun des trois modes de sollicitations. En 3D, la fissure peut avoir une géométrie complexe, et aucune expression générale de la singularité n'existe. Dans cette thèse, les séries de Williams en déplacements sont utilisées et régularisées le long du front au sens des éléments finis. À partir de cette définition 3D des séries asymptotiques en pointe de fissure, une méthode d'extraction directe des FIC (DEK-FEM) est étendue au cas 3D. Le domaine est décomposé en deux domaines, raccordés en moyenne sur l'interface. Au voisinage du front, les champs mécaniques sont approchés par une troncature des champs asymptotiques. La singularité est donc traitée avec des champs adaptés, et les degrés de liberté associés sont directement les coefficients asymptotiques. Parmi ces coefficients asymptotiques, on retrouve les FIC et les T-stresses. Pour des raisons d'efficacité numérique et pour pouvoir relier l'échelle de la structure à l'échelle de la fissure, cette méthode est intégrée dans un contexte multigrilles localisées X-FEM. Ainsi nous montrons que cette approche permet une bonne évaluation des évolutions des FIC et du T-stress. Cette méthode est développée en parallèle d'une stratégie de post-traitement expérimental (mesure de champs de déplacements par corrélation d'images) basée sur les mêmes séries asymptotiques. Les images tridimensionnels d'un essai de fatigue in situ sont obtenues par micro-tomographie à rayons X et reconstruction. La corrélation et la régularisation basées sur les séries asymptotiques permettent d'obtenir la géométrie de la fissure et les FIC pour pouvoir identifier des lois de propagation de fissures 3D en fatigue. L'efficacité de cette méthode en parallèle d'une simulation DEK-FEM est illustrée en 2D
It is necessary to understand the behavior of structures up to their failure to enhance their design. The mechanisms and phenomena undergoing failure vary according to the considered material and boundary conditions. We consider homogeneous materials for which cracks propagate in a context where behavior nonlinearities are not dominants. These conditions are matched for brittle and quasi-brittle materials and for some fatigue cracks. For the former, the main source of dissipation is the crack propagation which can be seen as the generation of a new free-surface. For the later, there is many applications where, in one loading cycle, the nonlinearities remains confined around the crack tip. The linear elastic fracture mechanics theory is then a pertinent model to approximate the structure behavior. Under such hypotheses, a singularity appears in the crack tip vicinity. The Williams' series expansion is computed from the asymptotic study of plane and anti-plane states. The stress is singular at the crack tip and the order of this singularity is one out of two. The singularity amplitude is quantified by the stress intensity factors (SIF), one for each of the three loading modes. In 3D, the crack shape is potentially complex (front curvature and non-planar crack), and no general asymptotic series expansion exists. In this PhD thesis, the 2D Williams' series in displacements are used and regularized with a finite element evolution along the front. From this 3D definition of the asymptotic fields in the crack tip vicinity, a numerical method for direct estimation of the SIF (DEK-FEM) is extended to 3D. This method is based on domain decomposition, the two domains are bounded in a weak sense on their interface. In the crack tip vicinity, the mechanical fields are approximated by a truncation of the asymptotic series expansion. Therefore, appropriate fields are used to deal with the singularity, and the associated degrees of freedom are directly the asymptotic coefficients. Among these coefficients are the SIF and the T-stresses. To bridge the scales between the structure and the crack front singularity and to increase the numerical efficiency, this method is embedded in a localized X-FEM multigrids approach. The proposed method is shown to provide an accurate evaluation of the SIF and T-stresses evolution. This approach has been developed in combination of an experimental post-processing method (full field displacement measurement through image correlation) based on the same asymptotic series expansion. The 3D images can be obtained for in situ fatigue experiments by X-ray microtomography and reconstruction. The crack geometry and the SIF are then provided by image correlation and regularization based on Williams series expansion. These data can be used for identifying a 3D fatigue crack growth law. The efficiency of the method is illustrated in 2D

This report travels through multiple disciplines to seek innovative and sustainable energy solutions for wastewater treatment plants. The first subject is a report about increased global temperatures and an over-exploitation of natural resources that threatens ecosystems worldwide. The situation is urgent where the current trend is a 2°C increase of global temperatures already in 2040. Furthermore, the energy-land nexus becomes increasingly apparent where the world is going from a dependence on easily accessible fossil resources to renewables limited by land allocation. A direction of the required transition is suggested where all actors of the society must contribute to quickly construct a new carbon-neutral resource and energy system. Wastewater treatment is as required today as it is in the future, but it may move towards a more emphasized role where resource management and energy recovery will be increasingly important. This report is a master’s thesis in energy engineering with an ambition to provide some clues, with a focus on energy, to how wastewater treatment plants can be successfully integrated within the future society. A background check is conducted in the cross section between science, society, politics and wastewater treatment. Above this, a layer of technological insights is applied, from where accessible energy pathways can be identified and evaluated. A not so distant step for wastewater treatment plants would be to absorb surplus renewable electricity and store it in chemical storage mediums, since biogas is already commonly produced and many times also refined to vehicle fuel. Such extra steps could be excellent ways of improving the integration of wastewater treatment plants into the society. New and innovative electric grid-connected energy storage technologies are required when large synchronous electric generators are being replaced by ‘smaller’ wind turbines and solar cells which are intermittent (variable) by nature. A transition of the society requires energy storages, balancing of electric grids, waste-resource utilization, energy efficiency measures etcetera… This interdisciplinary approach aims to identify relevant energy technologies for wastewater treatment plants that could represent decisive steps towards sustainability.

Cette thèse porte sur l'étude de la durée de vie de composants et modules de puissance dans des environnements thermiques sévères, lorsque les modules de puissance sont amenés à travailler à haute température ou sous des cycles de température de forte amplitude. Les domaines visés par cette étude concernent plus particulièrement des applications extrêmement contraignantes telles que les applications aéronautiques. Un module de puissance est un assemblage de plusieurs matériaux (semi-conducteurs, brasures, céramiques, conducteurs) présentant des propriétés mécaniques, notamment de coefficient de dilatation thermiques (CTE) différentes. Les pertes dans les puces actives et les variations de température ambiante (profils de mission) sont responsables de contraintes mécaniques liées aux différences de CTE entre les différents matériaux. Les modes de défaillance étant principalement d'origine mécanique, ces travaux ont été effectués entre le SATIE et le LMT (Institut Farman). L'étude mécanique a complété des travaux expérimentaux de caractérisation et de vieillissement accéléré de modules de puissance à semi-conducteur. Ces études ont nécessité la mise en place d'essais de vieillissement spécifiques, passifs (utilisation d'une étuve permettant de contraindre les assemblages de puissance sous des cycles thermiques de grande amplitude) et actifs (utilisation de régimes extrêmes de fonctionnement tels que le court-circuit pour accélérer le vieillissement de certaines parties de l'assemblage).La première partie de ce manuscrit présente les principes physiques mis en jeu. Nous présenterons succinctement les concepts de mécanique de la rupture ainsi que les couplages physiques.La deuxième partie porte sur la rupture de la céramique des substrats DCB. Cette rupture peut provenir de défauts répartis aléatoirement dans le matériau. Nous aborderons le problème par une approche statistique où nous introduirons la "Théorie du maillon faible". L'autre cause de rupture est la présence de défauts géométriques que l'on appelle singularité où il existe une concentration des contraintes nécessitant une approche déterministe. A cette occasion nous introduirons le facteur d'intensité des contraintes qui permet d'étudier les problèmes de rupture liés à des zones singulières.La dernière partie portera sur la dégradation de la métallisation du transistor. La recherche d'indicateurs de vieillissement a demandé la mise au point de différents bancs de caractérisation électrique pour la mesure fine de différentes grandeurs électriques (courants de fuite, tensions de seuil, chute de tension à l'état passant...) dans un environnement thermique contrôlé. De plus ces caractérisations électriques sont corrélées à des observations de la métallisation effectuées par un microscope électronique à balayage de manière régulière. Nous chercherons à montrer comment la modification de la morphologie de la métallisation peut modifier les caractéristiques électriques des transistors de puissance testés.

碩士
國立成功大學
土木工程學系碩博士班
93
Reflective cracking is a common type of distress that occurs on composite AC/PCC pavement. Two main ways to analyze reflective cracking were developed. One is getting the relationship between fatigue life and failure by applying cyclic loading on asphalt beam in laboratory, the other is to research the tendency of cracking by computer simulation. It is not only microcosmic and accurate, but also quantifying the damage from traffic loading and temperature loading if analysis base on fracture mechanics. Cracking growth speed (failure potential) is predicted by stress intensity factor and Paris’ Law. Also, Use S-N curve to predict fatigue life of glassgrid. The first finding in this research is that the glassgrid does not delay happening of cracking, but it is effective on extending life of the system in the process of crack propagation because of its tensile strength. The result indicated that an increase in the stiffness of the geogrid is not related well to the fatigue life. The reinforcement effect was more pronounced for weaker subgrade foundation.

Reflection cracking is one of the main distresses in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) overlays. It has been a serious concern since early in the 20th century. Since then, several models have been developed to predict the extent and severity of reflection cracking in HMA overlays. However, only limited research has been performed to evaluate and calibrate these models. In this dissertation, mechanistic-based models are calibrated to field data of over 400 overlay test sections to produce a design process for predicting reflection cracks. Three cracking mechanisms: bending, shearing traffic stresses, and thermal stress are taken into account to evaluate the rate of growth of the three increasing levels of distress severity: low, medium, and high. The cumulative damage done by all three cracking mechanisms is used to predict the number of days for the reflection crack to reach the surface of the overlay. The result of this calculation is calibrated to the observed field data (severity and extent) which has been fitted with an S-shaped curve. In the mechanistic computations, material properties and fracture-related stress intensity factors are generated using efficient Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithms. In the bending and shearing traffic stress models, the traffic was represented by axle load spectra. In the thermal stress model, a recently developed temperature model was used to predict the temperature at the crack tips. This process was developed to analyze various overlay structures. HMA overlays over either asphalt pavement or jointed concrete pavement in all four major climatic zones are discussed in this dissertation. The results of this calculated mechanistic approach showed its ability to efficiently reproduce field observations of the growth, extent, and severity of reflection cracking. The most important contribution to crack growth was found to be thermal stress. The computer running time for a twenty-year prediction of a typical overlay was between one and four minutes.

Pressure tubes pick up hydrogen while they are in service within CANDU reactors. Sufficiently high hydrogen concentration can lead to hydride precipitation during reactor shutdown/repair at flaws, resulting in the potential for eventual rupture of the pressure tubes by a process called Delayed Hydride Cracking (DHC). The threshold stress intensity factor (KIH) below which the cracks will not grow by delayed hydride cracking of Zr-2.5Nb micro pressure tubes (MPTs) has been determined using a load increasing mode (LIM) method at different temperatures. MPTs have been used to allow easy study of the impact of properties like texture and grain size on DHC. Previous studies on MPTs have focused on creep and effects of stress on hydride orientation; here the use of MPTs for DHC studies is confirmed for the first time. Micro pressure tube samples were hydrided to a target hydrogen content of 100 ppm using an electrolytic method. For DHC testing, 3 mm thick half ring samples were cut out from the tubes using Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) with a notch at the center. A sharp notch with a root radius of 15 µm was introduced by broaching to facilitate crack initiation. The direct current potential drop method was used to monitor crack growth during the DHC tests. For the temperature range tested the threshold stress intensity factors for the micro pressure tube used were found to be 6.5-10.5 MPa.m1/2 with the value increasing with increasing temperature. The average DHC velocities obtained for the three different test temperatures 180, 230 and 250oC were 2.64, 10.87 and 8.45 x 10-8 m/s, respectively. The DHC data obtained from the MPTs are comparable to the data published in the literature for full sized CANDU pressure tubes.
Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-04-24 12:55:36.917

Expansive soils are amongst the most significant, widespread, costly, and least publicized geologic hazards. Where exposed to seasonal environments, such soils exhibit significant volume changes as well as desiccation–induced cracking, thereby bringing forth instability concerns to the overlying structures and hence incurring large amounts of maintenance costs. Consequently, expansive soils demand engineering solutions to alleviate the associated socio–economic impacts on human life. Common solutions to counteract the adversities associated with problematic soils include soil replacement and/or soil stabilization. The latter refers to any chemical, mechanical or combined chemical–mechanical practice of altering the soil fabric to meet the intended engineering criteria. Though proven effective, conventional stabilization schemes often suffer from sustainability issues related to high manufacturing and/or transportation costs, and environmental concerns due to greenhouse gas emissions. The transition towards sustainable stabilization necessitates reusing solid wastes and/or industrial by–products as part of the infrastructure system, and more specifically as replacements for conventional stabilization agents such as cement, lime, geogrids and synthetic fibers. Among others, discarded tires constitute for one of the largest volumes of disposals throughout the world, and as such, demand further attention. Given the high–volume generation (and disposal) of waste tire rubbers every year throughout the world, a major concern hitherto has been the space required for storing and transporting such waste materials, and the resulting health hazards and costs. Those characteristics which make waste tire rubbers such a problem while being landfilled, make them one of the most reusable waste materials for engineering applications such as soil stabilization, as the rubber is resilient, lightweight and skin–resistive. Beneficial reuse of recycled tire rubbers for stabilization of expansive soils would not only address the geotechnical–related issue, but would also encourage recycling, mitigate the burden on the environment and assist with waste management. The present study intends to examine the rubber’s capacity of ameliorating the inferior engineering characteristics of expansive soils, thereby solving two widespread hazards with one solution. Two rubber types of fine and coarse categories, i.e. rubber crumbs/powder and rubber buffings, were each examined at various rubber contents (by weight). The experimental program consisted of consistency limits, standard Proctor compaction, oedometer swell– shrink/consolidation, soil reactivity (or shrink–swell index), cyclic wetting–drying, cracking intensity, unconfined compression (UC), split tensile (ST), direct shear (DS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests. Improvement in the swell–shrink/consolidation capacity, cracking intensity and shear strength (DS test) were all in favor of both a higher rubber content and a larger rubber size. However, rubber contents greater than 10% (by weight) often raised failure concerns when subjected to compression (UC test) and/or tension (ST test), which was attributed to the clustering of rubber particles under non–confinement testing conditions. Although the rubber of coarser category slightly outperformed the finer rubber, the effect of larger rubber size was mainly translated into higher ductility, lower stiffness and higher energy adsorption capacity rather than peak strength improvements. The volume change properties were cross–checked with the strength–related characteristics to arrive at the optimum rubber content. A rubber inclusion of 10%, preferably the rubber of coarser category, satisfied a notable decrease in the swell–shrink/consolidation capacity as well as improving the strength–related features, and thus was deemed as the optimum choice. Based on the experimental results, along with the SEM findings, the soil–rubber amending mechanisms were discussed in three aspects: i) increase in non–expansive fraction; ii) frictional resistance generated as a result of soil–rubber contact; and iii) mechanical interlocking of rubber particles and soil grains. A series of empirical models were suggested to quantify the compaction characteristics of soil–rubber mixtures as a function of their consistency limits. Moreover, the dimensional analysis concept was extended to the soil–rubber shear strength problem, thereby leading to the development of a series of practical dimensional models capable of simulating the shear stress–horizontal displacement response as a function of normal stress (or confinement) and the composite’s basic index properties, i.e. rubber content, specific surface area and initial placement (or compaction) condition. The predictive capacity of the proposed empirical and dimensional models was examined and further validated by statistical techniques. The proposed empirical and dimensional models contain a limited number of fitting/model parameters, which can be calibrated by minimal experimental effort as well as simple explicit calculations, and thus implemented for preliminary assessments (or predictive purposes). To justify the use of higher rubber contents in practice, a sustainable polymer agent, namely Polyacrylamide (PAM) of anionic character, was introduced as the binder. A series of additional tests were then carried out to examine the combined capacity of rubber inclusion and PAM treatment in solving the swelling problem of South Australian expansive soils. As a result of PAM treatment, the connection interface between the rubber particles and the clay matrices were markedly improved, which in turn led to lower swelling/shrinkage properties, higher resistance to cyclic wetting–drying, and reduced tendency for cracking compared to that of the conventional soil–rubber blend. A rubber inclusion of 20%, paired with 0.2 g/l PAM, was suggested to effectively stabilize South Australian expansive soils.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, 2018

Probabilistic assessment and life cycle management of engineering components and systems in a nuclear power plant is intended to ensure safe and efficient operation of energy generation over its entire life. The CANDU reactor core consists of 380-480 pressure tubes, which are like miniature pressure vessels that contain natural uranium fuel. Pressure tubes operate under severe temperature and radiation conditions, which result in degradation with ageing. Presence of flaws in a pressure tube makes it vulnerable to delayed hydride cracking (DHC), which may lead to rupture or break-before-leak situation. Therefore, assessment of flaws in the pressure tubes is considered an integral part of a reactor core assessment program. The main objective of the thesis is to develop advanced probabilistic and mechanical stress field models for the assessment of flaws. The flaw assessment models used by the industries are based on deterministic upper/lower bound values for the variables and they ignore uncertainties associated with system parameters. In this thesis, explicit limit state equations are formulated and first order reliability method is employed for reliability computation, which is more efficient than simulation-based methods. A semi-probabilistic approach is adopted to develop an assessment model, which consists of a mechanics-based condition (or equation) involving partial factors that are calibrated to a specified reliability level. This approach is applied to develop models for DHC initiation and leak-before-break assessments. A novel feature of the proposed method is that it bridges the gap between a simple deterministic analysis and complex simulations, and it is amenable to practical applications. The nuclear power plant systems are not easily accessible for inspection and data collection due to exposure to high radiation. For this reason, small samples of pressure tubes are inspected at periodic intervals and small sample of data so collected are used as input to probabilistic analysis. The pressure tube flaw assessment is therefore confounded by large sampling uncertainties. Therefore, determination of adequate sample size is an important issue. In this thesis, a risk informed approach is proposed to define sample size requirement for flaw assessment. Notch-tip stress field is a key factor in any flaw assessment model. Traditionally, linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) and its extension, serves the basis for determination of notch-tip stress field for elastic and elastic-perfectly-plastic material, respectively. However, the LEFM solution is based on small deformation theory and fixed crack geometry, which leads to singular stress and strain field at the crack-tip. The thesis presents new models for notch and crack induced stress fields based on the deformed geometry. In contrast with the classical solution based on small deformation theory, the proposed model uses the Cauchy's stress definition and boundary conditions which are coupled with the deformed geometry. This formulation also incorporates the rotation near the crack-tip, which leads to blunting and displacement of the crack-tip. The solution obtained based on the final deformed configuration yields a non-singular stress field at the crack-tip and a non-linear variation of stress concentration factor for both elastic and elastic-perfectly-plastic material. The proposed stress field formulation approach is applied to formulate an analytical model for estimating the threshold stress intensity factor (KIH) for DHC initiation. The analytical approach provides a relationship between KIH and temperature that is consistent with experimental results.