Experimental investigation of the limit load of the ANSI B16.9 tees with and without cracks under internal pressure

The experimental results of plastic limit load of 14 Chinese ANSI B16.9 tees, under internal pressure, were reported in this work. Among the selected specimens, two were made of stainless steel and the others were made of plain carbon-manganese steel; eight junctions were defect free and six had outside, non-through wall cracks at the flank or the crotch corner. Results of dimensional surveys of Chinese ANSI B16.9 tees were presented first, and then the collapse behaviour and the significant bulging of the side flanks of junctions with and without cracks were depicted. The relationship of plastic limit load with structural dimensions and crack size were then summarized on the basis of experimental results. The existing estimation formulae were evaluated by using the experimental results.