Abstract
In this study, limit load equations of thick-walled pipes with inner and outer circumferential surface cracks were derived based on force and moment equilibrium conditions. Since the limit load equations based on the mean radius at uncracked ligament, previously proposed by Kanninen et al., are based on the premise that the pipe wall thickness is relatively thin, the existing limit load solutions are only applicable to thin-walled pipes. In order to analyze the effect of the pipe thickness and surface crack depth on the limit load results, the predictions using the present limit load equations are compared with those using the existing solutions for thin-walled pipes. Being derived considering the thickness effect, the limit load solutions from this paper are believed to be more accurate for thick-walled pipes than the limit load equations presented for thin-walled pipes, and thus to be valuable equations for integrity assessment of thick-walled pipes.