Experimental demonstration of failure modes on bellows structures subject to internal pressure

Ando, Masanori ; Yada, Hiroki ; Tsukimori, Kazuyuki; Ichimiya, Masakazu*; Anoda, Yoshinari*

In this study, in order to develop the evaluation method of the pressure toughness of bellows structure under the beyond design base event, the pressure failure tests and finite element analysis (FEA) of the bellows structure subjected to internal pressure were performed. In the test of five convolutions 0.5 mm-thickness bellows specimen with guard pipe, the maximum pressure was larger than those in the tests without guard pipe specimens and ductile failure was observed. On the other hand, in the test of five convolutions 0.5 mm-thickness bellows specimen without guard pipe, local failure was observed. In the test of the six convolutions 1.0 mm-thickness bellows specimen, ductile failure was observed in the both single and double ply bellows. The maximum pressure obtained in all tests were about 10 times larger than the estimated results of limiting design pressure based on in-plain instability by the EJMA standards.