Papers by Keyword: Defect Assessment

Abstract: In the pipeline construction, the girth welds tend to be the weakness because of defects and microstructure. The importance of suitable assessment of various defects in the weld is not only to prevent the cracks from unstable growth to cause catastrophic accident but also can effectively reduce the weld repair to reduce construction cost. Although many welding defects assessment methods and codes are used in this field, there are many differences among them. In this paper, the welding defect assessment methods, such as API 1104 and BS7910, were studied. The results show the key factors that affect the result of these assessment methods. The application of these methods was also discussed. The results indicate that API 1104 level1 has the highest conservatism, while API 1104 level 2 is next.

Abstract: The continued safe and reliable operation of plant invariably has to consider the assessment of defects in welded structural components. This requires some estimate of the residual stresses that have developed during the welding fabrication process. For as-welded structures these stresses can be of yield magnitude. Engineering critical assessment procedures such as R6, BS 7910, FITNET and API 579-1 provide simplified estimates, bounding profiles or advice on detailed analysis or measurement which can be applied to provide conservative estimates of the remaining life of plant. The use of finite element analysis (FEA) is being applied more frequently to predict residual stresses in welded components for assessment purposes. This calculation involves complex non-linear analyses with many assumptions. As a consequence, the accuracy and reliability of solutions is variable. In order to improve the consistency of weld modelling, and hence the accuracy and confidence in their use, a set of Guidelines covering the calculation of residual stresses have been developed. The residual stress calculations need to be validated before the results can be used in assessments and guidance on how to demonstrate the required standard of validation proof is provided with these Guidelines. The level of validation required, depends on the problem being solved and the sensitivity of the assessment to the presence of residual stress. For example a high level of validation may be required for assessments of safety critical plant. To support these calculations, measurements are required and a series of ‘Weld Residual Stress Benchmarks’, describing welded mock-ups which have been measured using various measurement techniques, are being collated which the users can then refer to when validating their finite element modelling techniques and thus provide a greater confidence in the predicted results.

Abstract: A long-term UK research programme on environmentally assisted cracking (EAC), residual stresses [1, 2] and fracture mechanics [3, 4] was launched in 2004. It involves Rolls-Royce plc and Serco Technical Services, supported by UK industry and academia. The residual stress programme is aimed at progressing the understanding of residual stresses and on the basis of this understanding manage how residual stresses affect the structural integrity of plant components. Improved guidance being developed for the treatment of residual stresses in fracture assessments includes the use of stress intensity factor solutions for displacement controlled loading as opposed to the more commonly used load controlled solutions. Potential reductions in crack driving force are also being investigated in relation to (i) utilizing a residual stress field that has “shaken-down” due to operational loads, (ii) introducing a crack progressively as opposed to instantaneously, and (iii) allowing for the fact that a crack may have been initiated during the life of a component as opposed to being present from the start-of-life. This paper describes some of these latest developments in relation to residual stress effects

Abstract: Steel catenary risers (SCR) are used in deepwater oil and gas developments to transfer produced fluids from the seabed to surface facilities. SCRs can be subject to fatigue loading from a variety of sources including wave and tidal motion, vortex induced vibration (VIV) and operating loads. When the produced fluids are sour (ie contain water and H2S) higher fatigue crack growth rates (FCGR) are expected, and this can have a significant effect on defect tolerance. The aim of this paper is to provide guidance on the current best practice methods for performing engineering critical assessments (ECA) on internal surface breaking defects in SCRs operating in a sour environment and subject to VIV fatigue loads. Example ECA calculations are presented for circumferential girth weld flaws, based on the failure assessment diagram (FAD) approach within the framework of BS 7910 [1]. The influence of certain key input variables is demonstrated, including the FCGR, determined from recent sour test data generated as part of this research.

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of four key challenges for structural integrity assessment methods: surface technology and incubation / initiation of defects, microstructural effects on weld performance, realistic loading and defect morphologies and thermal / irradiation effects on materials and structures. These challenges will be met by the application of emerging experimental and numerical methods which will facilitate the development of a mechanistic understanding of these four challenges alongside mechanistically-based models to enable the reliable prediction of component performance outside the available database of materials behaviour.

Abstract: Current research efforts in the development of high temperature defect assessment procedure are summarized. Creep exemption criteria are proposed for the assessment of defective structures at high temperature in consideration of the effects of loadings, operating temperature and service time. Time-dependent failure assessment diagram (TDFAD) is developed that covers major failure mechanisms of defective high temperature structures. Challenges due to the welding effect are discussed. TDFAD for weldments is derived for various combinations of materials. In order to develop a unified assessment method to cope with material and loading complexity, a new failure assessment diagram based on continuum damage concept is proposed to reflect the damage effect on ductile creep failure and brittle creep fracture.