Evaluation of combined hardening model in ratcheting behavior of pressurized piping elbows subjected to in-plane moments

In this paper the ratcheting behavior of carbon steel(ASTM A106B) and stainless steel(304L) elbows is studied under steady internal pressure and in-plane external moments at frequencies typical of seismic excitations. The finite element analysis with the nonlinear isotropic/kinematic (combined) hardening model has been used to evaluate ratcheting behavior of the elbows. Material parameters have been obtained from several stabilized cycles of specimens that are subjected to symmetric strain cycles. The rate of ratcheting depends significantly on the magnitudes of the internal pressure, dynamic bending moment and material constants for combined hardening model. The results show that the maximum ratcheting is occurred in the hoop direction at crown. Also, the results show that initially, the calculated rate of ratcheting is large and then decreases with the increasing of cycles. Also, the results obtained by using the Combined hardening model gives acceptable adaptation in comparison with the other hardening models(AF and Chaboche hardening models); however this model gives over estimated values comparing with the experimental data.