Multi-Tier Tensile Strain Models for Strain-Based Design: Part 2 — Development and Formulation of Tensile Strain Capacity Models

Author(s):  
Ming Liu ◽  
Yong-Yi Wang ◽  
Yaxin Song ◽  
David Horsley ◽  
Steve Nanney

This is the second paper in a three-paper series related to the development of tensile strain models. The fundamental basis of the models [1] and evaluation of the models against experiment data [2] are presented in two companion papers. This paper presents the structure and formulation of the models. The philosophy and development of the multi-tier tensile strain models are described. The tensile strain models are applicable for linepipe grades from X65 to X100 and two welding processes, i.e., mechanized GMAW and FCAW/SMAW. The tensile strain capacity (TSC) is given as a function of key material properties and weld and flaw geometric parameters, including pipe wall thickness, girth weld high-low misalignment, pipe strain hardening (Y/T ratio), weld strength mismatch, girth weld flaw size, toughness, and internal pressure. Two essential parts of the tensile strain models are the crack driving force and material’s toughness. This paper covers principally the crack driving force. The significance and determination of material’s toughness are covered in the companion papers [1,2].

Author(s):  
Satoshi Igi ◽  
Takahiro Sakimoto ◽  
Nobuhisa Suzuki ◽  
Ryuji Muraoka ◽  
Takekazu Arakawa

This paper presents the results of experimental and finite element analysis (FEA) studies focused on the tensile strain capacity of X80 pipelines under large axial loading with high internal pressure. Full-pipe tensile test of girth welded joint was performed using high-strain X80 linepipes. Curved wide plate (CWP) tests were also conducted to verify the strain capacity under a condition of no internal pressure. The influence of internal pressure was clearly observed in the strain capacity. Critical tensile strain is reduced drastically due to the increased crack driving force under high internal pressure. In addition, SENT tests with shallow notch specimens were conducted in order to obtain a tearing resistance curve for the simulated HAZ of X80 material. Crack driving force curves were obtained by a series of FEA, and the critical global strain of pressurized pipes was predicted to verify the strain capacity of X80 welded linepipes with surface defects. Predicted strain showed good agreement with the experimental results.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Michiel De Backer ◽  
Koen Van Minnebruggen ◽  
Wim De Waele

The longitudinal strain capacity of spiral welded pipelines displays to some extents unexplained behaviour. Therefore, they are not (yet) used extensively in offshore applications and harsh conditions, demanding a strain based design. An important factor that influences the tensile strain capacity is the quantity of anisotropy in terms of strength and toughness. Starting from an anisotropic hot rolled highstrength steel skelp, the process of helical forming and post-treating of the pipe adds heterogeneity and changes the level of anisotropy of the product. A parameter that should be examined with respect to anisotropy is the crack driving force, a measure for the toughness of the pipeline steel. Additional to the mode I loading (opening of the crack), the mode III component drives the in-plane shear motion of a crack in the spiral weld when the pipe is subjected to longitudinal deformation. This action, not present inlongitudinal welded pipes, shows a decreasing contribution with increasing plasticity. FE simulations have demonstrated a rise of crack driving force in anisotropic cases with respect to an isotropic reference. However, exact data and variation of various parameters, along with experimental testing need to be conducted. The outcome analysis of such simulations and tests can validate existing models, or help create a better understanding of anisotropic and heterogenic influences on the tensile strain capacity of spiral welded pipes.


Author(s):  
Yong-Yi Wang ◽  
Ming Liu ◽  
Yaxin Song ◽  
David Horsley

This paper covers the development of tensile strain design models using a multidisciplinary approach, including fundamental fracture mechanics, small-scale material characterization tests, and large-scale tests of full-size pipes. The tensile strain design models are formulated in a four-level format. The Level 1 procedure provides estimated tensile strain capacity (TSC) in a tabular format for quick initial assessment. The initiation toughness alternatively termed apparent toughness is estimated from upper shelf Charpy impact energy. The Level 2 procedure contains a set of parametric equations based on an initiation-control limit state. The tensile strain capacity can be computed from these equations with the input of a pipe’s dimensional and material property parameters. The apparent toughness is estimated from either upper shelf Charpy energy or upper shelf toughness of standard CTOD test specimens. The Level 3 procedure uses the same set of equations as in Level 2 and the toughness values are obtained from low-constraint tests. In the Level 3 procedure, two limit states based on either initiation control or ductile instability can be used. The Level 4 procedure allows the use of direct FEA calculation to develop crack driving force relations. The same limit states as those in Level 3 may be used. The Level 4 procedures should only be used by seasoned experts in special circumstances where lower level procedures are judged inappropriate. The tensile strain design models may be used for the following purposes: (1) The determination of tensile strain capacity for a given set of material properties and flaw size. (2) The determination of acceptable flaw sizes for a given set of material properties and target tensile strain capacity. (3) The selection of material properties to achieve a target strain capacity for a given flaw size. (4) The optimization of the tensile strain capacity by balancing the requirements of material parameters, such as weld strength (thus weld strength mismatch level) versus toughness. The application of the tensile strain design models is given in a companion paper.


Author(s):  
Bo Wang ◽  
Banglin Liu ◽  
Yong-Yi Wang ◽  
Otto Jan Huising

Abstract Being able to estimate the tensile strain capacity (TSC) of vintage girth welds is sometimes necessary for the integrity management of vintage pipelines. Assessing girth weld integrity could be a top priority after a confirmed ground movement event. Decisions may also be needed about the disposition of a girth weld when weld anomalies are found. Typical fitness-for-service (FFS) procedures, such as API 1104 Annex A and API 579/ASME FFS-1, generally target materials under nominally elastic conditions and strain demands less than 0.2%. These procedures may produce overly conservative results when the strain demand exceeds 0.2%. This paper summarizes the development and validation of a TSC estimation tool for vintage girth welds under PRCI funding. The work consisted of three components: the development of a TSC model for vintage girth welds, the implementation of the model into a software tool, and the experimental validation of the performance of the tool using curved wide plate (CWP) tests. The TSC model was developed following the procedures established through a previous PRCI-PHMSA cofounded work. Finite element analyses (FEA) were performed to obtain a crack-driving force database while considering the salient features of vintage girth welds, such as larger weld caps and weld strength mismatch levels. The TSC model was then derived from the crack-driving force database using apparent toughness values representative of vintage girth welds. A graphical user interface (GUI) and a user manual were developed to facilitate the application of the TSC model. The software tool produces TSC estimates based on geometry, material, loading, and flaw characteristics of a girth weld. For inputs that might not have readily available values, recommended values are provided. The tool allows the evaluation of the impact of various input parameters on TSC. The performance of the TSC estimation tool was evaluated against eight purposely designed CWP tests. Accompanying small-scale material characterization tests, including chemical composition, round bar tensile, microhardness, and Charpy impact tests, were performed to provide additional inputs for the evaluation of the tool. The tool is shown to provide reasonably conservative estimates for TSC. An example problem is presented to demonstrate the application of the tool. Gaps and future work to improve the tool are highlighted at the end of the paper.


Author(s):  
Satoshi Igi ◽  
Takahiro Sakimoto ◽  
Shigeru Endo ◽  
Ryuji Muraoka ◽  
Takekazu Arakawa

This paper examines the tensile strain capacity of girth welded pipelines. A pressurized and no pressurized full-pipe tension tests were conducted together with FE analyses in order to investigate the strain behavior of pipe under large axial loading with high internal pressure. The critical tensile strain drastically decreased under a high internal pressure condition. Single edge notch tension (SENT) tests with shallow notched specimens were also performed to obtain the material resistance curve (R-curve), and a series of FE analyses was conducted to obtain the crack driving force for ductile crack propagation. The R-curve and crack driving force curve were used in predicting the tensile strain limit of X80 girth welded pipe with a surface defect in the HAZ. The predicted critical tensile strain showed good agreement with that obtained in the pressurized and no pressurized full-pipe tension test.


Author(s):  
Banglin Liu ◽  
Yong-Yi Wang ◽  
Xiaotong Chen ◽  
David Warman

Abstract The ability to accurately estimate the tensile strain capacity (TSC) of a girth weld is critical to performing strain-based assessment (SBA). A wide range of geometry, material, and loading factors can affect the TSC of a girth weld. Among the influencing factors, an increase in the internal pressure level has been shown to have a detrimental effect on the TSC. The overall influence of internal pressure is usually quantified by a TSC reduction factor, defined as the ratio of the TSC at zero pressure to the lowest TSC typically attained at pressure factors around 0.5–0.6. Here the pressure factor is defined as the ratio of the nominal hoop stress induced by pressure to the yield strength (YS) of the pipe material. A number of numeric and experiment studies have reported a TSC reduction factor of 1.5–2.5. These studies generally focused on strain-based designed pipelines with evenmatching or overmatching welds, minimum heat affected zone (HAZ) softening, and a surface breaking flaw at the weld centerline or the fusion boundary. This paper examines the effects of pipe internal pressure on the TSC of girth welds under the premise of weld strength undermatching and HAZ softening. The interaction of biaxial loading and the local stress concentration at the girth weld region was quantified using full-pipe finite element analysis (FEA). The relationship between TSC and the internal pressure level was obtained under several combinations of weld strength mismatch and HAZ softening. Results from the FEA show that the effects of the internal pressure on the TSC are highly sensitive to the material attributes in the girth weld region. Under less favorable weld strength undermatching and HAZ softening conditions, the traditionally assumed reduction factor or 1.5–2.5 may not be applicable. Further, the location of tensile failure is found to depend on both the weld material attributes and the internal pressure. It is possible for the failure location to shift from pipe body at zero internal pressure to the girth weld at elevated internal pressure levels. The implications of the results for both girth weld qualification and integrity assessment are discussed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stijn Hertelé ◽  
Rudi Denys ◽  
Anthony Horn ◽  
Koen Van Minnebruggen ◽  
Wim De Waele

A key influence factor in the strain-based assessment of pipeline girth weld flaws is weld strength mismatch. Recent research has led to a framework for tensile strain capacity as a function of weld flow stress (FS) overmatch. This framework is built around three parameters: the strain capacity of an evenmatching weldment, the sensitivity of strain capacity to weld FS overmatch, and the strain capacity at gross section collapse (GSC). A parametric finite element study of curved wide plate (CWP) tests has been performed to identify the influence of various characteristics on each of these three parameters. This paper focuses on flaw depth, tearing resistance of the weld, stress–strain behavior of the base metal, and weld geometry. Influences of these characteristics are mostly found to be limited to one or two of the three framework parameters. A preliminary structure is proposed for equations that further develop the strain capacity framework.


2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stijn Hertelé ◽  
Wim De Waele ◽  
Rudi Denys ◽  
Matthias Verstraete ◽  
Koen Van Minnebruggen ◽  
...  

Weld strength mismatch is a key factor in the strain based assessment of flawed girth welds under tension. A strength overmatching weld shields potential flaws within the weld itself from remotely applied deformations and consequently reduces crack driving force. Although this effect has been recognized for decades, different weld strength overmatch definitions exist, and it is not yet fully established which of those is most relevant to a strain based flaw assessment. In an effort to clarify this unsolved question, the authors have performed a large series of parametric finite element analyses of curved wide plate tests. This paper provides an experimental validation of the model and subsequently discusses representative results. It is found that crack driving force is influenced by the shape of the pipe metals' stress–strain curves, which influences the representativeness of two common mismatch definitions (based on yield strength and on ultimate tensile strength). Effects of strength mismatch on strain capacity of a flawed girth weld are best described on the basis of a flow stress, defined as the average of yield and ultimate tensile strength. Based on the observations, a framework for a new strain capacity equation is proposed.


Author(s):  
Celal Cakiroglu ◽  
Kajsa Duke ◽  
Marwan El-Rich ◽  
Samer Adeeb ◽  
J. J. Roger Cheng ◽  
...  

The design of steel pipelines against longitudinal loading induced by soil movement and temperature requires an understanding of the strain demand induced by the environment in comparison with the strain resistance of the pipes. Girth weld flaws have been identified as the potential location of failure under longitudinal tensile strains due to being the least ductile. Strain based design for the prediction of the longitudinal tensile strain capacity of steel pipes have been extensively studied by Wang, et al and included in the Canadian standards association code of practice CSA Z662.11 [1]. The extensive track record of tests have culminated into two sets of equations for the critical strain in girth welded pipes with surface breaking and buried defects as functions of the different pipe and flaw parameters. The CSA Z662.11 strain capacity equations were developed using wide plate tests with the obvious limitation of the inability to consider the effect of the internal pressure of the pipe. However, recent studies by Wang et al led to the development of a new set of equations that predict the tensile strain capacity for pipes with an internal pressure factor of 0.72. This paper analyses the two critical strain equations in CSA Z662-11 to understand the effect of different girth weld flaw and pipe parameters on the expected behavior of pipes. Also the critical strain equations developed in [2]have been analysed and compared to the equations in CSA Z662-11. Using the equations in CSA Z662-11, a 34 and 36 full factorial experimental design was conducted for the planar surface-breaking defect and the planar buried defect respectively. For the case of surface breaking defects the dependence of the tensile strain capacity (εtcrit) on apparent CTOD toughness (δ), ratio of defect height to pipe wall thickness (η), ratio of yield strength to tensile strength (λ) and the ratio of defect length to pipe wall thickness (ξ) has been studied. εtcrit has been evaluated at the maximum, minimum and intermediate values of each parameter according to the allowable ranges given in the code which resulted in the evaluation of εtcrit for 81 different combinations of the parameters. The average value of εtcrit at the maximum, minimum and middle value of each parameter has been calculated. The visualization of the results showed that η, δ and ξ have the most significant effect on εtcrit among the four parameters for the case of surface breaking defect. Similarly for buried defects the dependence of εtcrit on δ, η, λ, ξ, and the pipe wall thickness (t) has been studied. The evaluation of εtcrit for all possible combinations of the maximum, intermediate and minimum values of the 6 parameters resulted in εtcrit values for 729 different combinations. The variation of the average εtcrit over the maximum, intermediate and minimum values of the parameters showed that δ, ψ, ξ and η are the parameters having the greatest effect on εtcrit for the case of a buried defect. Further investigations could be carried out to determine suitable upper and lower bounds for the parameters for which no bounded range is defined in the CSA Z662-11 code.


Author(s):  
Stijn Hertelé ◽  
Wim De Waele ◽  
Rudi Denys ◽  
Matthias Verstraete ◽  
Koen Van Minnebruggen ◽  
...  

Weld strength mismatch is a key factor in the strain based assessment of flawed girth welds under tension. A strength overmatching weld shields potential flaws within the weld itself from remotely applied deformations and consequently reduces crack driving force. Although this effect has been recognized for decades, different weld strength overmatch definitions exist and it is not yet fully established which of those is most relevant to a strain based flaw assessment. In an effort to clarify this unsolved question, the authors have performed a large series of parametric finite element analyses of curved wide plate tests. This paper provides an experimental validation of the model and subsequently discusses representative results. It is found that crack driving force is influenced by the shape of the pipe metals’ stress-strain curves, which influences the representativeness of two common mismatch definitions (based on yield strength and on ultimate tensile strength). It can be concluded from further observations that effects of strength mismatch on strain capacity of a flawed girth weld are best described on the basis of a flow stress, defined as the average of yield and ultimate tensile strength. Based on the observations, a framework for a new strain capacity equation is proposed.


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