Based　on　the　viscoelastic　material　property　of　polyethylene　pipe,　software　ANSYS　was　used　to　simulate　and　analyze　the　mechanical　property　of　polyethylene　pipe　butt　fusion　joints　with　circumferential　surface　crack　defects.　The　viscoelastic　material　creep　parameters　were　characterized　as　Prony　series　and　1/4　node　singular　element　was　selected　for　meshing　along　the　boundaries　of　the　crack,　then　the　stress　intensity　factor　of　polyethylene　pipe　butt　fusion　joints　with　circumferential　surface　crack　was　calculated　under　the　uniform　internal　pressure.　Through　the　finite　element　simulation,　the　result　showed　that　polyethylene　pipe　were　most　likely　to　fracture　failure　when　crack　initiated.　Thus　the　viscoelasticity　of　materials　can　be　ignored　when　analyzing　the　stress　intensity　factor　of　circumferential　surface　cracks　of　polyethylene　pipe.　the　main　influencing　factor　of　the　circumferential　crack　defects　was　the　ratio　of　the　crack　depth　to　the　thickness　of　polyethylene　pipe.　©　(2013)　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.