Dent Screening Criteria Based on Dent Restraint, Pipe Geometry and Operating Pressure

Author(s):  
Sanjay Tiku ◽  
Arnav Rana ◽  
Binoy John ◽  
Aaron Dinovitzer

Abstract A safety advisory (2010-01), issued by the National Energy Board (NEB) in June 2010, referenced two incidents which were a result of a fatigue crack failure that occurred within shallow dents [1]. The dents in both instances were less than 6% (of the OD). Currently, there is no consensus on how shallow dents or shallow dents with stress concentrators, as called by the ILI tool, are assessed and acted upon. BMT Canada Ltd. (BMT) was contracted by the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) to develop a definition for shallow dents, and two levels of screening method for the integrity assessment of shallow restrained dents and unrestrained dents. These two levels are known as CEPA Level 0 and CEPA Level 0.5 dent integrity assessment techniques that may be applied without finite element modelling or detailed calculations. The BMT dent assessment finite element (FE) modeling method was used to develop an extensive database of dents for different pipe geometries (OD/t), indenter shapes, pipe grades, and indentation depths. The results of the FE modelling were used to develop trends for the stress magnification factors (KM) across the range of pipes and dents modelled. These trends are used as the basis for the Level 0 and Level 0.5 dent screening and assessment approaches that can be used for both unrestrained dents and shallow restrained dents. The results show that for low OD/t pipe geometry and/or low spectrum severity indicator (SSI) [2] dent fatigue life may not pose an integrity threat. These dent screening approached have been adopted in the API Recommended Practice 1183 Dent Assessment and Management, that is currently under development.

Author(s):  
Peter J. Gill ◽  
John Sharples ◽  
Keith Davey

This paper describes a new finite element method to analyse Leak-before-Break using the extended finite element method (XFEM). Traditionally, a Leak-before-Break analysis is performed using a methodology outlined in a Structural Integrity Assessment Procedure such as R6. This may achieve sufficient accuracy for the application of interest. However, there may be times when finite element (FE) analysis is required. With this in mind, a finite element model has been developed in which all the physics of the crack and leak rate is bundled into a special element, with only the crack size and position, external loads and fluid properties required as an input. All the meshing and leak rate calculation is dealt with by the code. This means that Leak-before-Break procedures can be performed more efficiently, even if FE modelling is required. The element was implemented in MATLAB and then used to investigate thermo-mechanical behaviour of a leaking thermo-fluid in a plate. For bulk fluid temperatures 20°C hotter than the structure, it was found that the leak rate was reduced by 40% due to crack closure.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 7141-7151 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Omar ◽  
M. N. Abdul Rani ◽  
M. A. Yunus

Efficient and accurate finite element (FE) modelling of bolted joints is essential for increasing confidence in the investigation of structural vibrations. However, modelling of bolted joints for the investigation is often found to be very challenging. This paper proposes an appropriate FE representation of bolted joints for the prediction of the dynamic behaviour of a bolted joint structure. Two different FE models of the bolted joint structure with two different FE element connectors, which are CBEAM and CBUSH, representing the bolted joints are developed. Modal updating is used to correlate the two FE models with the experimental model. The dynamic behaviour of the two FE models is compared with experimental modal analysis to evaluate and determine the most appropriate FE model of the bolted joint structure. The comparison reveals that the CBUSH element connectors based FE model has a greater capability in representing the bolted joints with 86 percent accuracy and greater efficiency in updating the model parameters. The proposed modelling technique will be useful in the modelling of a complex structure with a large number of bolted joints.


Author(s):  
Peter Song ◽  
Doug Lawrence ◽  
Sean Keane ◽  
Scott Ironside ◽  
Aaron Sutton

Liquids pipelines undergo pressure cycling as part of normal operations. The source of these fluctuations can be complex, but can include line start-stop during normal pipeline operations, batch pigs by-passing pump stations, product injection or delivery, and unexpected line shut-down events. One of the factors that govern potential growth of flaws by pressure cycle induced fatigue is operational pressure cycles. The severity of these pressure cycles can affect both the need and timing for an integrity assessment. A Pressure Cycling Monitoring (PCM) program was initiated at Enbridge Pipelines Inc. (Enbridge) to monitor the Pressure Cycling Severity (PCS) change with time during line operations. The PCM program has many purposes, but primary focus is to ensure the continued validity of the integrity assessment interval and for early identification of notable changes in operations resulting in fatigue damage. In conducting the PCM program, an estimated fatigue life based on one month or one quarter period of operations is plotted on the PCM graph. The estimated fatigue life is obtained by conducting fatigue analysis using Paris Law equation, a flaw with dimensions proportional to the pipe wall thickness and the outer diameter, and the operating pressure data queried from Enbridge SCADA system. This standardized estimated fatigue life calculation is a measure of the PCS. Trends in PCS overtime can potentially indicate the crack threat susceptibility the integrity assessment interval should be updated. Two examples observed on pipeline segments within Enbridge pipeline system are provided that show the PCS change over time. Conclusions are drawn for the PCM program thereafter.


Author(s):  
K. M. Prabhakaran ◽  
S. R. Bhate ◽  
V. Bhasin ◽  
A. K. Ghosh

Piping elbows under bending moment are vulnerable to cracking at crown. The structural integrity assessment requires evaluation of J-integral. The J-integral values for elbows with axial part-through internal crack at crown under in-plane bending moment are limited in open literature. This paper presents the J-integral results of a thick and thin, 90-degree, long radius elbow subjected to in-plane opening bending moment based on number of finite element analyses covering different crack configurations. The non-linear elastic-plastic finite element analyses were performed using WARP3D software. Both geometrical and material nonlinearity were considered in the study. The geometry considered were for Rm/t = 5, and 12 with ratio of crack depth to wall thickness, a/t = 0.15, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 and ratio of crack length to crack depth, 2c/a = 6, 8, 10 and 12.


Author(s):  
Guomin Ji ◽  
Nabila Berchiche ◽  
Sébastien Fouques ◽  
Thomas Sauder ◽  
Svein-Arne Reinholdtsen

The paper addresses the structural integrity assessment of lifeboat launched from floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels. The study is based on long-term drop lifeboat simulations accounting for more than 50 years of hindcast data of metocean conditions and corresponding FPSO motions. Selection of the load cases and strength analyses with high computational time is a challenge. The load cases analyzed are those corresponding to the 99th percentile of long term distribution of indicators for large slamming loads (CARXZ) or large submergence (Imaxsub). For six selected cases, the time-varying pressure distribution on the lifeboat hull during and after water impact is calculated by CFD simulations using StarCCM+. The finite element model (FEM) of the composite structure of the lifeboat is modelled by ABAQUS. Quasi-static finite element (FE) analyses are performed for the selected load cases. The structural integrity is assessed by the maximum stress and Tsai-Wu failure measure. In the present study, the load and resistance factors are combined and applied to the response. A sensitivity study is performed to investigate the non-linear load/response effects when the load factor is applied to the load. In addition, dynamic analysis is performed with the time-varying pressure distribution for selected case and the dynamic effect is investigated.


1982 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Nishioka ◽  
S. N. Atluri

An alternating method, in conjunction with the finite element method and a newly developed analytical solution for an elliptical crack in an infinite solid, is used to determine stress intensity factors for semi-elliptical surface flaws in cylindrical pressure vessels. The present finite element alternating method leads to a very inexpensive procedure for routine evaluation of accurate stress intensity factors for flawed pressure vessels. The problems considered in the present paper are: (i) an outer semi-elliptical surface crack in a thick cylinder, and (ii) inner semi-elliptical surface cracks in a thin cylinder which were recommended for analysis by the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (Section III, App. G, 1977). For each crack geometry of an inner surface crack, seven independent loadings, such as internal pressure loading on the cylinder surface and polynomial pressure loadings from constant to fifth order on the crack surface, are considered. From the analyses of these loadings, the magnification factors for the internal pressure loading and the polynomial influence functions for the polynomial crack surface loadings are determined. By the method of superposition, the magnification factors for internally pressurized cylinders are rederived by using the polynomial influence functions to check the internal consistency of the present analysis. These values agree excellently with the magnification factors obtained directly. The present results are also compared with the results available in literature.


2017 ◽  
Vol 754 ◽  
pp. 268-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele Sepe ◽  
M. Laiso ◽  
A. de Luca ◽  
Francesco Caputo

The study proposed within this paper deals with an application of finite element techniques to the thermo-structural analysis of a dissimilar butt-welded joint. Residual stresses induced by the fusion arc-welding of steel joints in power generation plants are a concern to the industry. Nowadays, the application of finite element method appears to be a very efficient method for the prediction and the investigation of the weld-induced residual stresses, nevertheless the detailed modelling of all phenomena involved in such process is still challenging. The structural integrity assessment of welded structures strongly requires a deep investigation of weld-induced residual stresses in order to be compliant with safety requirement of power plant. The longitudinal and transversal residual stresses in dissimilar material butt joints of 8 mm thick for V-groove shape were studied. The developed thermo-mechanical FE model as well as the simulation procedures are detailed and results are discussed. As a result of such work, it has been found out that residual stresses in the two dissimilar plates are characterized by very different magnitudes and distribution.


Author(s):  
Dario Barsi ◽  
Andrea Perrone ◽  
Luca Ratto ◽  
Daniele Simoni ◽  
Pietro Zunino

Multidisciplinary design optimisation (MDO) is nowadays widely employed to obtain advanced turbomachines design. The aim of this work is to provide a complete tool for the aeromechanical design of a radial inflow gas turbine. The high rotational speed of such machines, especially if used for micro cogenerative power plants, coupled with high exhaust gas temperature, exposes blades to really high centrifugal and thermal stresses; thus the aerodynamics optimisation has to be necessarily coupled with the mechanical one. Such an approach involves two different computational tools: a fully 3D Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solver is used for the aerodynamic optimisation, while an open source Finite Element Analysis (FEA) solver is employed for the mechanical integrity assessment. The geometry parameterization is handled with a commercial tool that employs b-spline advanced curve for blades and vanes definition. The aerodynamic mesh generation is managed via dedicated tools provided by the CFD software and it is a fully structured hexahedral multi-block grid. The FEA mesh is built by means of a harmonic map approach, which is able to provide high quality second order unstructured grid preserving geometrical features starting from boundary surfaces of the fluid domain. The finite element calculation provides stresses, displacements and eigenmodes that are used for mechanical integrity assessments while the CFD solver provides performance parameters and local thermodynamic quantities. Due to the high computational cost of both these two solvers, a metamodel, such as an artificial neural network, is employed to speed up the process. The interaction between two codes, the mesh generation and the post processing of the results is obtained via in-house developed scripting modules. Results obtained are presented and discussed.


Author(s):  
Benjamin M. E. Pellereau ◽  
Christopher M. Gill ◽  
Matthew Dawson ◽  
Paul R. Hurrell ◽  
John Francis ◽  
...  

This paper describes finite element (FE) modelling and neutron diffraction (ND) measurements to investigate the development of residual stresses in two different geometries of ferritic weld. All specimens were produced using SA508 Grade 3 steel plates, depositing a low carbon SD3 weld filler by mechanised TIG welding. The FE analyses were carried out using Abaqus/VFT and the behaviour of the SA508 steel was modelled using a simplified (Leblond) phase transformation model with isotropic hardening using VFT’s UMAT-WELD subroutine, which includes the change in volume due to phase transformation. Single bead-on-plate specimens were manufactured using a range of mechanised TIG welding parameters. One pass and three pass groove welds were also produced, in order to investigate the cyclic hardening behaviour of the materials, as well as phase transformation effects in a multi-pass weld. FE analyses were then performed to determine how accurately these effects could be modelled. During manufacture, a number of thermocouples were attached to each of the specimens in order to calibrate the heat input to the FE models. The residual stresses in each of the bead on plate welds, as well as the groove weld after the first and the third passes, were then measured using ND at the middle of the plate. The ND measurements for the three pass weld showed no significant cyclic hardening behaviour although some was predicted by the FE analysis. Another key finding of the FE modelling that was seen in all of the models was that the phase transformation acts to reduce the stress levels in the deposited weld metal leaving the largest tensile stresses in a ring at the outer edge of the full heat affected zone (HAZ). There are plans to refine the FE studies using improved material properties when material testing of SA508 and SD3 are completed in the near future.


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