A Comparison of proximity rules for surface planar flaws

Bouydo, A.*; Dulieu, P.*; Lacroix, V.*; Hasegawa, Kunio; Mare, V.*

Flaw assessment according to Fitness-For-Service (FFS) codes is usually based on equations describing the impact of a single flaw in piping or pressure vessels components. However, when multiple flaws are detected, interaction rules are to be taken into account to evaluate whether these flaws should be combined into a larger flaw or should be evaluated as separate ones. In recent years, numerous works have be done to evaluate the conservatism of the interaction rules required by FFS code and, if needed, establish new characterization rules. These new characterization rules are based on the distance between flaws, their depths their lengths or a combination of these three parameters in order to reflect the level of interaction between adjacent flaws. A comparison, focusing on multiple surface planar flaws, between ASME B&PV Section XI current combination rules, other Fitness-For-Service codes and other interaction rules established by fellow authors in presented in this paper.