Fracture Propagation in Underwater Gas Pipelines

1986 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. A. Maxey
Keyword(s):  
Ductile Fracture ◽  
Pipe Wall ◽  
Fracture Propagation ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Gas Pipelines ◽  
Buried Pipelines ◽  
Nitrogen Gas ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Fracture Velocity

Two full-scale ductile fracture propagation experiments on segments of line pipe pressurized with nitrogen gas have been conducted underwater at a depth of 40 ft (12 m) to evaluate the ductile fracture phenomenon in underwater pipelines. The pipes were 22-in. (559-mm) diameter and 42-in. (1067-mm) diameter. Fracture velocities were measured and arrest conditions were observed. The overpressure in the water surrounding the pipe resulting from the release of the compressed nitrogen gas contained in the pipe was measured in both experiments. The overpressure in the water reduces the stress in the pipe wall and thus slows down the fracture. In addition, the water surrounding the pipe appears to be more effective than soil backfill in producing a slower fracture velocity. Both of these effects suggest a greater tendency toward arrest for a pipeline underwater than would be the case for the same pipeline buried in soil onshore. Further verification of this effect is planned and a modified version of the existing model for predicting ductile fracture in buried pipelines will be developed for underwater pipelines.

Mechanical and Metallurgical Aspects of the Resistance to Ductile Fracture Propagation in the New Generation of Gas Pipelines

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Pyshmintsev ◽  
Alexey Gervasyev ◽  
Victor Carretero Olalla ◽  
Roumen Petrov ◽  
Andrey Arabey
Keyword(s):  
Ductile Fracture ◽  
Mechanical Test ◽  
Fracture Propagation ◽  
Rolling Plane ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Charpy Test ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Surface Separation ◽  
Fracture Arrest ◽  
New Generation

The microstructure and fracture behavior of the base metal of different X80 steel line pipe lots from several pipeline projects were analyzed. The resistance of the pipes to ductile fracture propagation was determined by the full-scale burst tests. The high intensity of fracture surface separation (secondary brittle cracks parallel to the rolling plane of the plate) appeared to be the main factor reducing the specific fracture energy of ductile crack propagation. A method for quantitative analysis of microstructure allowing estimation of the steel’s tendency to form separations is proposed. The procedure is based on the EBSD data processing and results in Cleavage Morphology Clustering (CMC) parameter evaluation which correlates with full-scale and laboratory mechanical test results. Two special laboratory mechanical test types utilizing SENT and Charpy test concepts for prediction of ductile fracture arrest/propagation in a pipe were developed and included into Gazprom specifications.

scholarly journals On Longitudinal Propagation of a Ductile Fracture in a Buried Gas Pipeline: Numerical and Experimental Analysis

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Berardo ◽  
P. Salvini ◽  
G. Mannucci ◽  
G. Demofonti
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Ductile Fracture ◽  
Driving Force ◽  
Fracture Propagation ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Finite Element Code ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Real Phenomenon ◽  
Buried Gas Pipeline ◽  
Soil Pipe

The work deals with the development of a finite element code, named PICPRO (PIpe Crack PROpagation), for the analysis of ductile fracture propagation in buried gas pipelines. Driving force estimate is given in terms of CTOA and computed during simulations; its value is then compared with the material parameter CTOAc, inferred by small specimen tests, to evaluate the toughness of a given line pipe. Some relevant aspects are considered in the modelling with the aim to simulate the real phenomenon, namely ductile fracture mechanism, gas decompression behaviour and soil backfill constraint. The gas decompression law is calculated outside the finite element code by means of experimental data from full-scale burst tests coupled with classical shock tube solution. The validation is performed on the basis of full-scale propagation experiments, carried out on typical pipeline layouts, and includes verification of global plastic displacements and strains, CTOA values and soil-pipe interaction pressures.

Microstructure Engineering of Thicker Gage Niobium Microalloyed Line Pipe Steel With Enhanced Toughness by High Temperature Processing Using TiN-NbC Composite Precipitate

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. V. Subramanian ◽  
Xiaoping Ma ◽  
Chengliang Miao ◽  
Xiaobing Zhang ◽  
Laurie Collins
Keyword(s):  
Brittle Fracture ◽  
Ductile Fracture ◽  
Pipe Steel ◽  
Fracture Propagation ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Laboratory Simulation ◽  
Austenite Grain Size ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Nano Scale ◽  
Line Pipe Steel

Prediction of crack arrestability of higher grade line pipe steel microalloyed with niobium in full scale burst tests based on laboratory simulation tests including Charpy impact, DWTT and CTOD is rendered difficult, as the full scale burst test is found to be far more sensitive to microstructure variables than current laboratory tests. This paper deals with nano-scale TiN-NbC composite precipitate engineering as an alternative approach to strain-induced precipitation of NbC to produce thicker gage plate or coil with enhanced toughness and resistance to ductile fracture propagation of line pipe steel. Microstructure engineering is based on identification of key microstructural parameters to which target properties can be related, and engineer the target microstructure through design of base chemistry and optimization of processing schedules. Nano-scale precipitate engineering based on control of spacing and size of TiN-NbC composite precipitate offers a new approach to achieve excellent strength and toughness (300J at −60C) of line pipe steels through control of target microstructure consisting of: (i) refinement of austenite grain size (under 30 microns) of transfer bar before pancaking, (ii) high volume fraction of acicular ferrite with adequate plasticity to increase resistance to ductile fracture propagation, (iii) high density and uniform dispersion of high angle grain boundaries that arrest micro-cracks to suppress brittle fracture initiation, (iv) less intensity of unfavorable {100}<011> texture component that facilitate the propagation of brittle fracture, (v) suppression of ultra-fine precipitates in the matrix, thereby enlarging plastic zone ahead of the crack tip to blunt the tip of the crack, and (vi) suppression of coarse brittle constituents (carbides or MA products) that initiate brittle fracture. Experimental results are presented on thermo-mechanically rolled X-90 and K-60 that validate the concept of microstructure engineering using TiN-NbC composite precipitate engineering to enhance strength and fracture toughness.

scholarly journals Control of ductile fracture propagation in modern gas pipelines

2019 ◽  
Vol 0 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29
Author(s):  
V. S. Vakhrusheva ◽  
A. D. Luchkov ◽  
M. V. Pushkarenko
Keyword(s):  
Ductile Fracture ◽  
Fracture Propagation ◽  
Gas Pipelines

Ruptures in Gas Pipelines, Liquid Pipelines and Dense Phase Carbon Dioxide Pipelines

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Cosham ◽  
David G. Jones ◽  
Keith Armstrong ◽  
Daniel Allason ◽  
Julian Barnett
Keyword(s):  
Large Diameter ◽  
Saturation Pressure ◽  
Fracture Propagation ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Gas Pipeline ◽  
Thick Wall ◽  
Dense Phase ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Rich Mixture ◽  
High Toughness

Ruptures in gas and liquid pipelines are different. A rupture in a gas pipeline is typically long and wide. A rupture in a liquid pipeline is typically short and narrow, i.e. a slit or ‘fish-mouth’ opening. The decompression of liquid (or dense) phase carbon dioxide (CO2) immediately after a rupture is characterised by a rapid decompression through the liquid phase, and then a long plateau. At the same initial conditions (pressure and temperature), the initial speed of sound in dense phase CO2 is greater than that of natural gas and less than half that of water. Consequently, the initial decompression is more rapid than that of natural gas, but less rapid than that of water. A question then arises … Does a rupture in a liquid (or dense) phase CO2 pipeline behave like a rupture in a liquid pipeline or a gas pipeline? It may exhibit behaviour somewhere in-between the two. A ‘short’ defect that would rupture at the initial pressure might result in a short, narrow rupture (as in a liquid pipeline). A ‘long’ defect that would rupture at the (lower) saturation pressure might result in a long, wide rupture (as in a gas pipeline). This is important, because a rupture must be long and wide if it is to have the potential to transform into a running fracture. Three full-scale fracture propagation tests (albeit shorter tests than a typical full-scale test) published in the 1980s demonstrate that it is possible to initiate a running ductile fracture in a CO2 pipeline. However, these tests were on relatively small diameter, thin-wall line pipe with a (relatively) low toughness. The results are not applicable to large diameter, thick-wall line pipe with a high toughness. Therefore, in advance of its full-scale fracture propagation test using a dense phase CO2-rich mixture and 914×25.4 mm, Grade L450 line pipe, National Grid has conducted three ‘West Jefferson Tests’. The tests were designed to investigate if it was indeed possible to create a long, wide rupture in modern, high toughness line pipe steels using a dense phase CO2-rich mixture. Two tests were conducted with 100 mol.% CO2, and one with a CO2-rich binary mixture. Two of the ‘West Jefferson Tests’ resulted in short ruptures, similar to ruptures in liquid pipelines. One test resulted in a long, wide rupture, similar to a rupture in a gas pipeline. The three tests and the results are described. The reasons for the different behaviour observed in each test are explained. It is concluded that a long, wide rupture can be created in large diameter, thick-wall line pipe with a high toughness if the saturation pressure is high enough and the initial defect is long.

The Application of the Battelle “Short Formula” to the Determination of Ductile Fracture Arrest Toughness in Gas Pipelines

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. Rothwell
Keyword(s):  
Ductile Fracture ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Gas Pipelines ◽  
Research Committee ◽  
Original Intent ◽  
Decompression Wave ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fracture Arrest ◽  
Fracture Velocity

Many models and formulae have been put forward, over the years, for the determination of the toughness necessary for the arrest of propagating ductile fracture in gas pipelines. One of the first, and most prominent, was that developed by Battelle Columbus Laboratories for the Pipeline Research Committee of the American Gas Association. As originally embodied, the model involved the comparison of curves expressing the variation of fracture velocity and of decompression wave velocity with pressure (the “two-curve model” — TCM). To aid in analysis, at a time long before a computer was available on every desk, a “short formula” (SF) was developed that provided a good fit to the results of the TCM for a substantial matrix of conditions. This SF has subsequently been adopted by several standards bodies and used widely in the analysis of the results of full-scale burst tests. Since the original description of the derivation of the SF is to be found only in a report to the PRC dating back to the Seventies, many in the pipeline industry today are left without a full appreciation of its range of validity. The present paper briefly discusses the original intent of the SF as a substitute for the TCM, and presents the results of extensive calculations comparing the results of the two. It can be concluded that the SF provides an excellent estimate of the results of the TCM over a very wide range of design and operating parameters, within the limitations inherent in the method.

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