Comparison of girth weld tearing resistance obtained from Curved Wide Plate and Single Edge Notch Tensile testing

Curved Wide Plate and Single Edge Notch Tensile tests are commonly considered for girth weld defect assessment. It is however not clear which test yields the least conservative estimate of the tearing resistance. A combined numerical-experimental procedure has been established to measure the crack extension, based on the direct current potential drop technique. This procedure appears accurate with respect to testing standards. In addition, the tearing resistance of the SENT specimens appears noticeably lower compared to wide plate specimens. This implies that SENT testing introduces conservatism in a girth weld defect assessment.