Strength Model Uncertainties of Burst, Yielding, and Excessive Bending of Piping

Nuclear safety-piping is designed according to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Sections III, NB-, NC-, and ND-3600 that use the allowable stress design method (ASD). The potential use instead of reliability-based design equations for nuclear piping could benefit the structural design by providing, among others, consistent reliability levels for piping. For the development of such equations, not only the probabilistic characteristics of the design variables are needed, but also the quantification of the uncertainties introduced by the strength models that are used in order to estimate the resistance of pipes subjected to different loadings. This paper evaluates strength models, and therefore provides necessary information for the reliability-based design of pipes for burst or yielding due to internal pressure and for excessive bending.