A Subscale Experimental Test Method to Characterize Extrusion-Based Elastomer Seals

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiyan Jayanath ◽  
Ajit Achuthan ◽  
Aaron Mashue ◽  
Ming Huang

Extrusion-based elastomer seals are used in many applications, such as the seal in a variable bore ram valve used in offshore oil and gas drilling. Performing full-scale closing pressure experiments of such valves to characterize the seal performance and material failure of elastomer, especially under various temperature conditions, are quite expensive and time consuming. Conversely, simple coupon tests to characterize the elastomer mechanical properties and failure do not capture the complex deformation associated with the extrusion and subsequent sealing type that these materials undergo in the valves. In view of this, a simple subscale experimental test method capable of simulating the extrusion and sealing type deformation is developed. The extrusion and sealing deformation are realized by bonding the rectangular elastomer sample to metal pieces on top and bottom surfaces, and then compressing the sample in the vertical direction, while the deformation of the three lateral surfaces is kept constrained. As a result, sample deforms and extrudes out of the front surface, eventually forming the seal against a flat rigid metal plate placed at an appropriate distance. Simple scaling rules to determine the appropriate sample size and initial sealing gap, equivalent to the full-scale valve in terms of similar strain conditions, are derived and then verified using finite element analysis (FEA). Finally, the experimental test method is demonstrated by characterizing the contact pressure of nitrile (NBR) samples under different operating temperatures, ranging from 21 °C to 160 °C using pressure-sensitive film sensor.

Author(s):  
Pedro Barros ◽  
Agnes Marie Horn ◽  
Anders Wormsen ◽  
Per Osen ◽  
Kenneth A. Macdonald

Abstract For subsea well drilling, the drilling rig is connected to the subsea well by a marine riser and subsea BOP equipped with a remotely controlled wellhead connector latched onto the subsea wellhead profile. The level of cyclic loading on subsea wellheads is steadily increasing due to use of increasingly larger drilling rigs with larger BOPs, the drilling of wells in harsher environments characterized by strong high waves. The remotely controlled wellhead connector forces a series of locking dogs into an externally machined profile on the wellhead. This external profile is generally referred to as a wellhead profile. The fatigue resistance of this safety-critical connection is typically estimated by FE analysis. Due to the large size of the equipment, and high cost of testing, very limited fatigue testing, if any, has been carried out. A test method has therefore been developed, where a special test fixture is used to apply realistic boundary conditions and variable tensile loads to a small sector or segment of a wellhead connector. A primary objective is to generate fatigue-critical stress fields in the segments under tensile test load that closely replicates the stress fields in a full-scale connector subject to bending loads. A secondary objective is to support the introduction of the practice of testing several segments cut from a single wellhead connector. The testing of narrow sector segments allows the use of readily available test apparatus. It is thereby envisaged that the total cost of testing (specimens and test laboratory costs) can be substantially reduced in comparison with full-scale connector fatigue testing. This paper describes the text fixture, the connector locking dog, and wellhead segments designed to replicate the stress fields in a full-scale wellhead connector. The test fixture and test specimens are designed to match conditions and fatigue stress of the full-scale connector. The test specimens are instrumented with strain gauges at fatigue hotspots. Digital image correlation (DIC) is used to measure the relative motion between the wellhead segment and the locking dog. The measured strains are compared with corresponding values from finite element analysis of the test. The DIC results are also used for estimating the coefficient of friction between wellhead profile and locking dog. Very good agreement is found between measured hotspot strains and strains from the FE analyses for consistent load conditions. The test fixture is therefore considered suitable for segment fatigue testing, where the test results can be used to estimate the bending fatigue capacity of a full-scale wellhead connector. Results from fatigue testing by this test method are presented in a separate OMAE2020 paper.


2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 134-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Luchini ◽  
M. M. Motil ◽  
W. V. Mars

Abstract This paper discusses the measurement and modeling of tire rolling resistance for a group of radial medium truck tires. The tires were subjected to tread depth modifications by “buffing” the tread surface. The experimental work used the equilibrium test method of SAE J-1269. The finite element analysis (FEA) tire model for tire rolling resistance has been previously presented. The results of the testing showed changes in rolling resistance as a function of tread depth that were inconsistent between tires. Several observations were also inconsistent with published information and common knowledge. Several mechanisms were proposed to explain the results. Additional experiments and models were used to evaluate the mechanisms. Mechanisms that were examined included tire age, surface texture, and tire shape. An explanation based on buffed tread radius, and the resulting changes in footprint stresses, is proposed that explains the observed experimental changes in rolling resistance with tread depth.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamontip Sujaritwanid ◽  
Boonsiva Suzuki ◽  
Eduardo Yugo Suzuki

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to compare the stress distribution and displacement patterns of the one versus two maxillary molars distalization with iPanda and to evaluate the biomechanical effect of distalization on the iPanda using the finite element method. Methods The finite element models of a maxillary arch with complete dentition, periodontal ligament, palatal and alveolar bone, and an iPanda connected to a pair of midpalatal miniscrews were created. Two models were created to simulate maxillary molar distalization. In the first model, the iPanda was connected to the second molar to simulate a single molar distalization. In the second model, the iPanda was connected to the first molar to simulate “en-masse” first and second molar distalization. A varying force from 50 to 200 g was applied. The stress distribution and displacement patterns were analyzed. Results For one molar, the stress was concentrated at the furcation and along the distal surface in all roots with a large amount of distalization and distobuccal crown tipping. For two molars, the stress in the first molar was 10 times higher than in the second molar with a great tendency for buccal tipping and a minimal amount of distalization. Moreover, the stress concentration on the distal miniscrew was six times higher than in the mesial miniscrew with an extrusive and intrusive vector, respectively. Conclusions Individual molar distalization provides the most effective stress distribution and displacement patterns with reduced force levels. In contrast, the en-masse distalization of two molars results in increased force levels with undesirable effects in the transverse and vertical direction.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2590
Author(s):  
Che-Yu Lin ◽  
Ke-Vin Chang

Most biomaterials and tissues are viscoelastic; thus, evaluating viscoelastic properties is important for numerous biomedical applications. Compressional viscoelastography is an ultrasound imaging technique used for measuring the viscoelastic properties of biomaterials and tissues. It analyzes the creep behavior of a material under an external mechanical compression. The aim of this study is to use finite element analysis to investigate how loading conditions (the distribution of the applied compressional pressure on the surface of the sample) and boundary conditions (the fixation method used to stabilize the sample) can affect the measurement accuracy of compressional viscoelastography. The results show that loading and boundary conditions in computational simulations of compressional viscoelastography can severely affect the measurement accuracy of the viscoelastic properties of materials. The measurement can only be accurate if the compressional pressure is exerted on the entire top surface of the sample, as well as if the bottom of the sample is fixed only along the vertical direction. These findings imply that, in an experimental validation study, the phantom design should take into account that the surface area of the pressure plate must be equal to or larger than that of the top surface of the sample, and the sample should be placed directly on the testing platform without any fixation (such as a sample container). The findings indicate that when applying compressional viscoelastography to real tissues in vivo, consideration should be given to the representative loading and boundary conditions. The findings of the present simulation study will provide a reference for experimental phantom designs regarding loading and boundary conditions, as well as guidance towards validating the experimental results of compressional viscoelastography.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2097902
Author(s):  
Hai-Xia Xu ◽  
Yu-Tong Mu ◽  
Yin-Ping Zhang ◽  
Wen-Quan Tao

Most existing models and standards for volatile organic compounds emission assume that contaminants are uniform in the testing devices. In this study, a three-dimensional transient numerical model was proposed to simulate the mass transport process based on a full-scale test chamber with a mixing fan, and the airflow field and contaminants concentration distribution were obtained within the chamber under airtight and ventilated conditions. The model was validated by comparing the numerical results with experimental data. The numerical results show that the contaminant source position and the airflow field characteristics have significant impact on the contaminant mixing, and the fan rotation has an important role in accelerating mixing. In the initial mixing stage, the concentration distribution is obviously uneven; as the mixing progresses, it gradually reaches acceptable uniformity except for some sensitive regions, such as high concentration region at the injection point of the contaminants and low concentration region at the air inlet. To ensure test accuracy, the monitor should avoid above sensitive regions; and some special regions are recommended where contaminant concentration uniformity can be reached sooner. The ventilated chamber results indicate that the mixture of contaminants in the chamber is actually better than the results shown by conventional test method.


1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
R. Frank ◽  
H. Zervogiannis ◽  
S. Christoulas ◽  
V. Papadopoulos ◽  
N. Kalteziotis

This paper describes the behaviour of two test piles (one bored and postgrouted and one simply bored, both 31.7 m long and 0.75 m in diameter) subjected to horizontal loads. These full-scale pile tests were carried out for the actual design of the pile foundation of a pier of the Evripos cable-stayed bridge. This bridge will link the Euboea Island to mainland Greece. The two piles have already been subjected to bearing capacity tests under axial loadings. The inclinometer measurements, taken during the present tests, yielded, in particular, the deformed shape of the piles as well as the bending moments. Conclusions could be drawn for the final design of the pile foundation with respect to horizontal loadings. Furthermore, various calculation methods using p–y reaction curves for cohesionless soils have been checked: the Ménard pressuremeter method, the method of the American Petroleum Institute recommendations, and the Standard penetration test method of Christoulas. These pile tests show that simple measurements, taken on construction sites, can yield interesting results on the actual behaviour of horizontally loaded piles. Key words : pile, horizontal loading, full-scale test, horizontal loads, bending moment, subgrade reaction modulus, p–y curve, cohesionless soil, Standard penetration test, pressuremeter test.


Author(s):  
Luiz T. Souza ◽  
David W. Murray

The paper presents results for finite element analysis of full-sized girth-welded specimens of line pipe and compares these results with the behavior exhibited by test specimens subjected to constant axial force, internal pressure and monotonically increasing curvatures. Recommendations for the ‘best’ type of analytical finite element model are given. Comparisons between the behavior predicted analytically and the observed behavior of the experimental test specimens are made. The mechanism of wrinkling is explained and the evolution of the deformed configurations for different wrinkling modes is examined. It is concluded that the analytical tools now available are sufficiently reliable to predict the behavior of pipe in a manner that was not previously possible and that this should create a new era for the design and assessment of pipelines if the technology is properly exploited by industry.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Wang ◽  
Ximing Cui ◽  
Hongbao Ma ◽  
Yihua Kang ◽  
Zhiyang Deng

Surface roughness is one of the main factors that affect the ultrasonic testing of micro-cracks. This article theoretically analyzes the relationship between the changes in the energy intensity of crack echo waves and roughness-modified transmission coefficients. A series of simulations are carried out using two-dimensional sinusoidal curves as rough surface. Then, parallel experiments are performed on sample surfaces with different arithmetic average heights (Ra). The signal amplitude ratio factor (SARF) is defined to assess the ultrasonic detection capacity for micro-cracks. Both finite element analysis and experimental results show that signal amplitude decreases with an increase in Ra, resulting in signal-to-noise ratio loss. Amplitude attenuation caused by the rough back surface is less than that caused by the rough front surface. It is difficult to identify the signal of micro-cracks with a depth less than 400 μm when the Ra of the front surface is larger than 15 μm. Cracks with depths of more than 200 μm can be distinguished when the back-surface roughness is less than 24 μm. Furthermore, the amplitude of the micro-crack signal increases slightly with variation in the horizontal parameter (Rsm). This study provides a valuable reference for the precision evaluation of micro-cracks using ultrasonic inspection.


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