Recharacterization of subsurface flaw to surface flaw based on equivalent fatigue crack growth rate

Lacroix, V.*; Li, Y. ; Strnadel, B.*; Hasegawa, Kunio*

A subsurface flaw located near a component surface is transformed to a surface flaw in accordance with a flaw-to-surface proximity rule. The re-characterization process from subsurface to surface flaw is adopted in all fitness-for-service (FFS) codes. However, the criteria of the re-characterizations are different among the FFS codes. In addition, the proximity factors in the rules are defined by constant values, irrespective of flaw aspect ratios. This paper describes the stress intensity factor interaction between the subsurface flaw and component free surface, and proposes a proximity factor from the point of view of fatigue crack growth rates.