Pipeline Girth Weld Residual Stresses and the Effects of Hydrotesting

Author(s):  
Vinod Chauhan ◽  
Zhili Feng

Welding residual stresses are an important consideration in the fracture mechanics based fitness-for-purpose (FFP) assessment of steel structures. Reliable predictions of structural integrity can only be made provided that welding residual stresses are adequately accounted for. In the majority of cases, their magnitude is not known and can vary widely. In the absence of detailed information, it is common practice to assume that the welding residual stress is tensile, uniform through the thickness and of yield strength magnitude. However, this assumption will often lead to conservative fracture assessments which may lead to the conclusion that a weld repair is necessary when in practice the structure is safe to continue operation. In this paper, an integrated thermal-metallurgical-mechanical finite element (FE) model is described which simulates the formation of residual stresses at pipeline girth welds. The simulation takes into account detailed variations of the microstructure in the weld and heat affected zone (HAZ) in order to predict residual stress levels. Results of the FE analysis were validated with measurements of the microhardness and surface residual stresses using the air abrasive center hole drilling method. Sensitivity of residual stress levels to steel strength level, pipe wall thickness and pipe misalignment is discussed. The effects of hydrotesting and the alleviation of welding residual stresses are also described.

Author(s):  
Xavier Ficquet ◽  
Karim Serasli ◽  
Ed J. Kingston

Optimising the structural integrity of an oil and gas pipeline is hugely important for its productivity and hence profitability. The structural integrity of a pipeline is influenced by factors such as: stress (i.e. applied and residual), material properties, environment, and the size and orientation of contained flaws. For example, whilst in operation, the integrity of a pipeline can be extended by reducing its applied stresses e.g. the flow and pressure of the oil and gas running within. Prior to operation however the integrity of the pipeline can easily be extended by reducing the residual stresses generated during installation or even “negatively pre-loading” the pipeline using residual stresses to help cancel out some of the applied stresses. Therefore understanding the distribution of residual stresses within a pipeline can be of great benefit to Oil and Gas engineers. In this paper, complementary residual stress measurement techniques are used to obtain near surface and through-thickness residual stress distributions in a fully circumferential butt welded pipe. The deep hole drilling (DHD) method was used to obtain the axial and hoop residual stresses along radial lines through the pipe wall. Near surface measurements on the outer surface of the pipe were obtained using the incremental centre-hole drilling (ICHD) method. The measurements were made only at limited points in and adjacent to the circumferential weld. In order to estimate the complete residual stress field present in the pipe, a mapping procedure utilising a finite element (FE) method was implemented. This entailed introducing the measured residual stresses into a FE model of the pipe as an initial condition and allowing redistribution. Naturally, the stresses at the measurement locations should remain at their initial values. Consequently, the method was developed to allow redistribution while retaining the measured values. The paper provides these estimates of the full residual stress state present in the pipe based on this mapping procedure. The FE model was then used to simulate the influence of various sizes of flaw on the mapped residual stresses field. An assessment of the acceptability of areas of loss of the wall thickness in internally pressurised pressure vessels was then performed.


2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Jahed ◽  
Mohammad Reza Faritus ◽  
Zeinab Jahed

Relieved strains due to drilling hole in a ring sample cut from an autofrettage cylinder are measured. Measured strains are then transformed to residual stresses using calibration constants and mathematical relations of elasticity based on ASTM standard recommendations (American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM E 837-08, 2008, “Standard Test Method for Determining Residual Stresses by the Hole-Drilling Strain-Gage Method,” American Society for Testing and Materials). The hydraulic autofrettage is pressurizing a closed-end long cylinder beyond its elastic limits and subsequently removing the pressure. In contrast to three-dimensional stress state in the autofrettage tube, the stress measurement in hole drilling method is performed on a traction free surface formed from cutting the ring sample. The process of cutting the ring sample from a long autofrettaged tube is simulated using finite element method (FEM) and the redistribution of the residual stress due to the cut is discussed. Hence, transformation of the hole drilling measurements on the ring slice to the autofrettage residual stresses is revealed. The residual stresses are also predicted by variable material properties (VMP) method (Jahed, H., and Dubey, R. N., 1997, “An Axisymmetric Method of Elastic-Plastic Analysis Capable of Predicting Residual Stress Field,” Trans. ASME J. Pressure Vessel Technol., 119, pp. 264–273) using real loading and unloading behavior of the test material. Prediction results for residual hoop stress agree very well with the measurements. However, radial stress predictions are less than measured values particularly in the middle of the ring. To remove the discrepancy in radial residual stresses, the measured residual hoop stress that shows a self-balanced distribution was taken as the basis for calculating residual radial stresses using field equations of elasticity. The obtained residual stresses were improved a lot and were in good agreement with the VMP solution.


Author(s):  
Tae-young Ryu ◽  
J. B. Choi ◽  
Kyoung S. Lee

For decades, the PWSCC on the penetration nozzles like BMI and CEDM nozzles are widely occurred all around the world. The PWSCC is dependent on the tensile stress condition, specific materials and chemical environment. Therefore, to evaluate the severity of the PWSCC, prediction of the welding residual stress on the J-groove welding part in the penetration nozzles is essential. Residual stress can be measured by using experimental methods like deep-hole drilling and X-ray diffraction, etc. However, the results of experimental methods are quite doubtable and these methods are hard to apply on the actual equipment. Therefore, computational approach like the FE analysis has been considered. The FE analysis results are very sensitive to the FE model density and analysis conditions. In this paper the optimized FE model for the residual stress analysis will be developed in the case of CEDM penetration nozzle. The optimized parameters contains bead number and mesh density. The bead numbers along the longitudinal and circumferential directions are considered and the mesh density in each the bead is also considered. The model will be verified by numerical error control.


Author(s):  
J. Broussard ◽  
P. Crooker

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) are working cooperatively under a memorandum of understanding to validate welding residual stress predictions in pressurized water reactor primary cooling loop components containing dissimilar metal welds. These stresses are of interest as DM welds in pressurized water reactors are susceptible to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) and tensile weld residual stresses are one of the primary drivers of this stress corrosion cracking mechanism. The NRC/EPRI weld residual stress (WRS) program currently consists of four phases, with each phase increasing in complexity from lab size specimens to component mock-ups and ex-plant material. This paper describes the Phase 1 program, which comprised an initial period of learning and research for both FEA methods and measurement techniques using simple welded specimens. The Phase 1 specimens include a number of plate and cylinder geometries, each designed to provide a controlled configuration for maximum repeatability of measurements and modeling. A spectrum of surface and through-wall residual stress measurement techniques have been explored using the Phase 1 specimens, including incremental hole drilling, ring-core, and x-ray diffraction for surface stresses and neutron diffraction, deep-hole drilling, and contour method for through-wall stresses. The measured residual stresses are compared to the predicted stress results from a number of researchers employing a variety of modeling techniques. Comparisons between the various measurement techniques and among the modeling results have allowed for greater insight into the impact of various parameters on predicted versus measured residual stress. This paper will also discuss the technical challenges and lessons learned as part of the DM weld materials residual stress measurements.


Author(s):  
Liwu Wei ◽  
Weijing He ◽  
Simon Smith

The level of welding residual stress is an important consideration in the ECA of a structure or component such as a pipeline girth weld. Such a consideration is further complicated by their variation under load and the complexity involved in the proper assessment of fracture mechanics parameters in a welding residual stress field. In this work, 2D axi-symmetric FEA models for simulation of welding residual stresses in pipe girth welds were first developed. The modelling method was validated using experimental measurements from a 19-pass girth weld. The modeling method was used on a 3-pass pipe girth weld to predict the residual stresses and variation under various static and fatigue loadings. The predicted relaxation in welding residual stress is compared to the solutions recommended in the defect assessment procedure BS 7910. Fully circumferential internal cracks of different sizes were introduced into the FE model of the three-pass girth weld. Two methods were used to introduce a crack. In one method the crack was introduced instantaneously and the other method introduced the crack progressively. Physically, the instantaneously introduced crack represents a crack originated from manufacturing or fabrication processes, while the progressively growing crack simulates a fatigue crack induced during service. The J-integral values for the various cracks in the welding residual stress field were assessed and compared. This analysis was conducted for a welding residual stress field as a result of a welding simulation rather than for a residual stress field due to a prescribed temperature distribution as considered by the majority of previous investigations. The validation with the 19-pass welded pipe demonstrated that the welding residual stress in a pipe girth weld can be predicted reasonably well. The relaxation and redistribution of welding residual stresses in the three-pass weld were found to be significantly affected by the magnitude of applied loads and the strain hardening models. The number of cycles in fatigue loading was shown to have little effect on relaxation of residual stresses, but the range and maximum load together governed the relaxation effect. A significant reduction in residual stresses was induced after first cycle but subsequent cycles had no marked effect. The method of introducing a crack in a FE model, progressively or instantaneously, has a significant effect on J-integral, with a lower value of J obtained for a progressively growing crack. The path-dependence of the J-integral in a welding residual stress field is discussed.


Author(s):  
J.-S. Park ◽  
J.-M. Kim ◽  
G.-H. Sohn ◽  
Y.-H. Kim

This study is concerned with the mechanics analysis of residual stress improvement by the heat sink method applied to a dissimilar metal weld (DMW) for the use in nuclear power plants. The DMW joint considered here is composed of ferritic low-alloy steel nozzle, austenitic stainless steel safe-end, and nickel-base alloy A52 weld metal. To prepare the DMW joint with a narrow-gap, the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process is utilized, and the heat sink method is employed to control thermal gradients developed in the critical region of work pieces during welding. Weld residual stresses are computed by the non-linear thermal elasto-plastic analysis using the axisymmetric finite element (FE) model, for which temperature-dependent thermal and mechanical properties of the materials are considered. A full-scale mock-up test is conducted to validate analytical solution for the DMW joint, and residual stresses are measured by using the hole-drilling method. Results of the FE modeling and mock-up test for the DMW joint are compared and effects of the heat sink method are discussed. It is found that a significant amount of residual compressive stresses can be developed on the inner surface of the DMW joint by using the heat sink method, which can effectively reduce the susceptibility of the welded materials to stress corrosion or fatigue cracking.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 364-375
Author(s):  
Florian Vollert ◽  
Marco Lüchinger ◽  
Simone Schuster ◽  
Nicola Simon ◽  
Jens Gibmeier ◽  
...  

Lightweight constructions are used to fulfil the ever-increasing demands regarding fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emission in transportation industries. In order to reduce weight, technical components made of solid materials are often replaced by tubular structures. Under service conditions, the components are frequently exposed to cyclic loads. Hence, residual stresses that are induced by manufacturing processes can have a significant impact on service life. In this work, the focus is on tube manufacturing processes, precisely cold tube sinking and fixed plug drawing. Both processes induce characteristic residual stress states, which are important to assess the mechanical integrity and load-carrying capacity of tubular components during service. The aim of this article is to examine the residual stress depth distribution for medium-carbon steel tubes manufactured by cold tube sinking and fixed plug drawing. The residual stresses are measured by means of the Sachs method and the hole-drilling method, respectively. The measured results are compared to finite element simulations of the tube drawing process. It is shown that the residual stress obtained with the different experimental methods and the numerical simulations are consistent. Furthermore, it is shown that the residual stresses can be significantly reduced when a plug is used in the drawing process.


Author(s):  
C. Ohms ◽  
R. V. Martins ◽  
O. Uca ◽  
A. G. Youtsos ◽  
P. J. Bouchard ◽  
...  

This paper provides an overview over the work of the European Network on Neutron Techniques Standardization for Structural Integrity (NeT). The network involves some 35 organisations from industry and academia and these partners undertake the application of modern experimental and numerical techniques to problems related to the structural integrity of components, mainly relevant to nuclear applications. While being built around neutron scattering techniques, which are predominantly applied for analyses of welding residual stresses, one of the major strengths of the consortium is the diversity in available experimental and numerical techniques. In the residual stress area, for example, many types of materials characterizations testing, several methods for residual stress analysis, including neutron and X-ray diffraction, deep hole drilling, the contour method and others, and many different ways of numerical analysis employing several commercially available FEM codes can be covered by the partners. Currently the network has embarked on five different Task Groups. Four of these are dealing with welding residual stress assessment, and one applies Small Angle Neutron Scattering for studying thermal ageing processes in duplex stainless steels used for reactor core internals. The work already performed in the context of NeT and the envisaged investigations for the ongoing Task Groups are briefly outlined in this paper. The aim is to give the reader a comprehensive overview of the work of NeT and to shed some light on the potential present in this kind of collaborative effort.


2013 ◽  
Vol 768-769 ◽  
pp. 79-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Horst Brünnet ◽  
Dirk Bähre ◽  
Theo J. Rickert ◽  
Dominik Dapprich

The incremental hole-drilling method is a well-known mechanical measurement procedure for the analysis of residual stresses. The newly developed PRISM® technology by Stresstech Group measures stress relaxation optically using electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI). In case of autofrettaged components, the large amount of compressive residual stresses and the radius of the pressurized bores can be challenging for the measurement system. This research discusses the applicability of the measurement principle for autofrettaged cylinders made of steel AISI 4140. The residual stresses are measured after AF and after subsequent boring and reaming. The experimental residual stress depth profiles are compared to numerically acquired results from a finite element analysis (FEA) with the software code ABAQUS. Sample preparation will be considered as the parts have to be sectioned in half in order to access the measurement position. Following this, the influence of the boring and reaming operation on the final residual stress distribution as well as the accuracy of the presented measurement setup will be discussed. Finally, the usability of the FEA method in early design stages is discussed in order to predict the final residual stress distribution after AF and a following post-machining operation.


Holzforschung ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeroen van Houts ◽  
Debes Bhattacharyya ◽  
Krishnan Jayaraman

Summary Due to the moisture and temperature gradients developed during hot pressing of medium density fibre-board (MDF), residual stresses occur within the board as it equilibrates to room conditions. It would be extremely useful to measure these residual stresses and to determine their effects on board properties such as moduli of elasticity and rupture in bending, internal bond strength and dimensional stability. In this article two methods, namely dissection and hole drilling, have been adapted to measure residual internal stress distributions in six different samples of industry produced MDF. The dissection method involves cutting several pieces of MDF perpendicular to the thickness direction at different depths. The residual stresses released by the dissection can be determined by measuring the curvatures of cut pieces and knowing their elastic moduli. The hole drilling method, on the other hand, involves mounting three strain gauges on the surface of a piece of MDF and drilling a hole to release residual stresses in close proximity. The released stresses are manifested as strains in the forms of which can be measured in three directions on the surface of the board. A theoretical model for predicting residual stresses involving various parameters has been developed and an excellent agreement with the experimental results from both the dissection and hole drilling methods has been achieved. Linear moisture expansion coefficient appears to have the greatest influence on residual stress. When compared against each other, the residual stresses measured by the hole drilling method show some shortcomings towards the centre of the board. While all six of the MDF boards exhibited similar trends in their residual stress distributions, significant differences were identified in the magnitudes of residual stress measured. Finally, some preliminary results linking the residual stress with the thickness swell of the samples and their surface densities have been presented.


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