Apparatus and method of arresting ductile fracture propagation

The combination of a pipe, having an axis, for containing fluid under a pressure sufficient to subject the pipe to the possibility of a ductile fracture propagating at a high speed in a predetermined direction, and a crack arrestor for arresting such a propagating ductile fracture, wherein the crack arrestor comprises means for stopping the propagating ductile fracture, the stopping means includes a band encompassing and constraining said pipe, and the band includes a plurality of substantially unidirectional, continuous, high tensile strength, non-corrodible, lightweight nonmetallic fibers encapsulated in a resin matrix, the fibers defining with the resin matrix a fluid impervious mass.

In a crack arrestor for arresting a propagating ductile fracture in a pipe containing fluid under a pressure sufficient to subject the pipe to the possibility of a ductile fracture propagating at a high speed in a predetermined direction, wherein the crack arrestor comprises means for stopping the propagating ductile fracture, and the stopping means includes a band for encompassing and constraining said pipe, the improvement comprising:

• the band including a plurality of continuous, high tensile strength, non-corrodible, lightweight nonmetallic fibers encapsulated in a resin matrix, the fibers defining with the resin matrix a fluid impervious mass;
• said fibers being oriented substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction of propagation.

In a crack arrestor for arresting a propagating ductile fracture in a pipe containing fluid under a pressure sufficient to subject the pipe to the possibility of a ductile fracture propagating at a high speed in a predetermined direction, wherein the crack arrestor comprises means for stopping the propagating ductile fracture, and the stopping means includes a band for encompassing and constraining said pipe, the improvement comprising:

• the band including a plurality of continuous, high tensile strength, non-corrodible, lightweight nonmetallic fibers encapsulated in a resin matrix, the fibers comprising at least 67% of the band and defining with the resin matrix a fluid impervious mass.

The combination of a pipe, having an axis, for containing fluid under a pressure sufficient to subject the pipe to the possibility of a ductile fracture propagating at a high speed in a predetermined direction, and a crack arrestor for arresting such a propagating ductile fracture, wherein the crack arrestor comprises means for stopping the propagating ductile fracture, the stopping means includes a band encompassing and constraining said pipe, and the band includes a plurality of continuous, high tensile strength, non-corrodible, lightweight nonmetallic fibers encapsulated in a resin matrix, the fibers defining with the resin matrix a fluid impervious mass;

• said fibers being oriented substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction of propagation.

The combination of a pipe, having an axis, for containing fluid under a pressure sufficient to subject the pipe to the possibility of a ductile fracture propagating at a high speed in a predetermined direction, and a crack arrestor for arresting such a propagating ductile fracture, wherein the crack arrestor comprises means for stopping the propagating ductile fracture, the stopping means includes a band encompassing and constraining said pipe, and the band includes a plurality of continuous, high tensile strength, non-corrodible, lightweight nonmetallic encapsulated in a resin matrix, the fibers comprising at least 67% of the band and defining with the resin matrix a fluid impervious mass.