Evaluation of longitudinal crack initiation in a pressurized pipeline Using the XFEM Method

For decades, pipelines have played a crucial role in the transportation of gases and fluids over long distances, serving as a vital infrastructure for the efficient and reliable delivery of energy resources. However, their structural integrity can be compromised by various factors, including fatigue cracking, underscoring the importance of ensuring their safety and longevity. This study focuses on the first mode of fatigue failure, examining the initiation and propagation of a rectangular-profile crack in a pressurized tube . The influence of internal pressure variations on the distribution of stress and strain fields is investigated, along with the temporal evolution of these fields. Numerical simulations are conducted using Abaqus software in conjunction with the Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM), with the results validated against analytical calculations. The effectiveness and robustness of the XFEM approach in addressing complex crack-related problems are demonstrated through a comparative analysis with existing literature.