Applicability of SE(T) and SE(B) Fracture Specimens in Crack Growth Measurements of Pipeline Girth Welds

Author(s):  
Leonardo L. S. Mathias ◽  
Gustavo H. B. Donato ◽  
Claudio Ruggieri

This work presents an investigation of the ductile tearing properties for a girth weld made of an API 5L X80 pipeline steel using experimentally measured crack growth resistance curves (J-Δa curves). Use of these materials is motivated by the increasing demand in the number of applications for manufacturing high strength pipes for the oil and gas industry including marine applications and steel catenary risers. Testing of the pipeline girth welds utilized side-grooved, clamped SE(T) specimens and 3P bend SE(B) specimens with a weld centerline notch to determine the crack growth resistance curves based upon the unloading compliance (UC) method using a single specimen technique. The shallow-crack SE(B) specimen provides an R-curve which, albeit slightly more conservative, exhibits levels of J-values which are relatively comparable to the levels of J corresponding to the deeply-cracked SE(T) specimen at a fixed amount of crack growth, Δa. This experimental characterization provides additional toughness data which serve to evaluate crack growth resistance properties of pipeline girth welds using SE(T) and SE(B) specimens with weld centerline cracks.

Author(s):  
Leonardo L. S. Mathias ◽  
Diego F. S. Burgos ◽  
Gustavo H. B. Donato ◽  
Marcelo Paredes ◽  
Claudio Ruggieri

Accurate measurements of fracture resistance properties, including crack growth resistance curves for pipeline girth welds, become essential in defect assessment procedures of the weldment region and the heat affected zone, where undetected cracklike defects (such as lack of penetration, deep undercuts, root cracks, etc.) may further extend due to to high tension stresses and strains. This work presents an investigation of the ductile tearing properties for a girth weld made of an API 5L X80 pipeline steel using experimentally measured crack growth resistance curves ((J-Δa curves). Use of these materials is motivated by the increasing demand in the number of applications for manufacturing high strength pipes for the oil and gas industry including marine applications and steel catenary risers. Testing of the pipeline girth welds utilized side-grooved, clamped single edge notched tensiles (SE (T)) specimens and three-point (3P) bend single edge bend (SE(B)) specimens with a weld centerline notch to determine the crack growth resistance curves based upon the unloading compliance (UC) method using a single specimen technique. Recently developed compliance functions and η-factors applicable for SE (T) and SE(B) fracture specimens with homogeneous material and overmatch welds are introduced to determine crack growth resistance data from laboratory measurements of load-displacement records. This experimental characterization provides additional toughness data which serve to evaluate crack growth resistance properties of pipeline girth welds using SE (T) and SE(B) specimens with weld centerline cracks.


Author(s):  
Sebastian Cravero ◽  
Claudio Ruggieri ◽  
Roberto Piovatto ◽  
Waldek W. Bose ◽  
Dirceu Spinelli

This work presents an investigation of the ductile tearing properties for an API 5L X60 pipeline steel using experimentally measured crack growth resistance curves (J-R curves). Use of these materials are motivated by the increasing demand in the number of applications for manufacturing high strength pipes for the Brazilian oil and gas industry including marine applications and steel catenary risers. Testing of the pipeline steels employed side-grooved SE(T) specimen with varying crack size to determine the J-R curves based upon the unloading compliance method using a single specimen technique. Recent developed compliance functions and eta-factors applicable for SE(T) fracture specimens are introduced to determine crack growth resistance data from laboratory measurements of load-displacement records. This experimental characterization provides additional toughness data which serve to evaluate crack growth resistance properties of pipeline steels using SE(T) specimens with varying geometries.


Author(s):  
Claudinei Ferreira ◽  
Diego F. S. Burgos ◽  
Claudio Ruggieri

Abstract This work presents an investigation of the ductile tearing properties for a girth weld made of an ASTM A106 Gr C steel using the SMAW welding process with a low hydrogen E7018 electrode thereby resulting in a weld with high strength overmatching with respect to the base material. Testing of the pipe girth welds employed side-grooved, clamped SE(T) specimens with a weld centerline notch to determine the crack growth resistance curves based upon the unloading compliance (UC) method using a single specimen technique. Recently developed compliance functions and η-factors applicable to weld centerline notched SE(T) specimens are introduced to determine crack growth resistance data from laboratory measurements of load-displacement records. While the UC procedure resulted in measured crack extensions for the tested specimens with weld centerline notch that underestimated the 9-point average crack extension, our preliminary results demonstrate the capability of the methodology in describing crack growth resistance behavior which serves as a basis for ductile tearing assessments in ECA procedures applicable to overmatched girth welds and similar structural components.


Author(s):  
Qingquan Duan ◽  
Hong Zhang ◽  
Feng Yan

The tests of fatigue crack overload retardation were performed to gain a some what deeper understanding of overload retardation. We present an experimental investigation of fatigue crack retardation behavior caused by intermediate single peak tensile overload under constant amplitude cyclic loading. The compact tension (CT) specimens of API grade X80 pipeline steel were used in fatigue test. The results show there was an instant crack extension during overloading for the tested overload ratios. As soon as the overload cycle was removed, instant delay in crack growth occurred. The results should be of interest for fracture mechanics prediction models on fatigue crack growth under variable amplitude loading and overloading effect for oil and gas pipelines.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harpreet Sidhar ◽  
Neerav Verma ◽  
Chih-Hsiang Kuo ◽  
Michael Belota ◽  
Andrew J. Wasson

Abstract In recent past, there have been unforeseen sour service pipeline failures in the oil and gas industry. Sub-optimal microstructure resulting in high hardness (above 250 HV10) in pipeline steel is one of the root causes of such failures. Poor girth weld quality is another leading cause which adversely affects pipeline integrity and safe operations in sour environments. While advancements in welding technologies have led to consistency in production girth welds, effects of welding parameters on performance of carbon steel pipeline girth welds for sour service are not well understood. So, a systematic study is needed to understand the effects of various welding parameters on weld properties and performance. This paper aims at evaluating the effects of various welding parameters on performance of girth welds to provide welding practice guidelines for sour service pipeline applications. In this effort, several welds on X65 grade line pipe girth welds using commercially available welding consumables were made to study the effects of preheat, hot pass tempering, copper backing, root pass heat input, wire consumable chemistry, single vs. dual torch, metal transfer mode, pipe fit-up (root gap, misalignment), on weld root performance. Detailed microhardness mapping and microstructural characterization were conducted. It was evident that the welding parameters studied have a significant impact on root performance. While preheat and pipe fit-up showed most significant impact on weld root performance, other parameters also affected the root performance by varying degree. Based on these results, recommendations for industry are provided to improve reliability of pipeline girth welds in sour service application.


Author(s):  
Bin Qiang ◽  
Xin Wang

Abstract The finite element method (FEM) based on the Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman (GTN) model was used to investigate the ductile crack growth behavior at different weld joint locations in X80 pipeline steel. The X80 weld joints are inhomogeneous and can be divided into five different zones. By fitting the results of uniaxial tension and single-edge notched bending tests, the GTN model parameters were determined using FEM in consideration of the inhomogeneity of the weld joint. The calibrated GTN model was then used to analyze the fracture toughness in single-edge notched tension tests. The results show that the different weld joint zones produce different mechanical properties and crack growth resistance curves. To accurately assess the integrity of X80 weld joints, the calibrated GTN model is a reasonable method for obtaining fracture toughness data and resistance curves for different joint locations under different loading conditions.


Author(s):  
Diego F. B. Sarzosa ◽  
R. Savioli ◽  
C. Ruggieri ◽  
Alexandre Galiani Garmbis

Abstract Preventing catastrophic failure of engineering components is critical during the exploration and production of oil and gas resources from the offshore deep-water fields in Brazil. Pre-salt reserves are associated with high concentration of aggregated elements to hydrocarbons, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) which, in the presence of water can produce highly corrosive elements. One solution to this problem is to apply a metal liner made of corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA) internally to the carbon steel pipe. Such a bi-metallic configuration, commonly referred to as a lined pipe or clad pipe, consists essentially of a relatively thin CRA material pipe physically or metallurgically joined to the main carbon steel outer pipe. This experimental study presents an investigation of the ductile tearing properties for the girth weld of a typical C-Mn pipe internally clad with Inconel 625 CRA alloy using experimentally measured crack growth resistance curves. Here, the material of the external pipe is an API 5L Grade X65 pipeline steel and the inner clad layer is made of Inconel nickel-chromium alloy 625 (UNS N06625). The higher mechanical strength and superior resistance to a wide range of corrosive environments of unusual severity for this material derived from the combination of the nickel-chromium matrix with other microalloying elements. Testing of the pipeline girth welds employed clamped SE(T) specimens with a weld centerline notch to determine the crack growth resistance curves based upon the unloading compliance (UC) method using a single specimen method and the multi-specimen technique. The SE(T) specimens were extracted from a clad pipe having an external diameter of 220 mm and thickness of 23 mm. Further, the current experimental characterization provides toughness data that serve to evaluate the effectiveness of current procedures in determining accurate experimentally measured R-curves for this class of material.


Author(s):  
G. Shen ◽  
J. A. Gianetto ◽  
R. Bouchard ◽  
J. T. Bowker ◽  
W. R. Tyson

The guidelines and recommendations for fracture toughness testing of pipeline girth welds outlined in CSA Z662-03, Annex K are reviewed in this work. In Annex K of CSA Z662-03, the specimen type and notch location have been grouped into four categories and the CTOD tests are to be carried out in accordance with either BSI Standard 7448 or ASTM Standard E 1290. In the present study, CTOD tests have been conducted on a manual shielded-metal-arc weld (SMAW) that was prepared in a high strength X80 pipeline steel. The experimental results obtained by applying the two testing standards are compared. The focus was to identify the differences between these two standards that may significantly affect the test results, such as the requirements for straightness of the fatigue crack, and the equations and parameters used for evaluation of CTOD. Some additional factors affecting the testing, such as selection of test specimen location and procedures for targeting specific weldment microstructures as well as the application of local compression, are also discussed. The variation of strength and toughness with clock position around the circumference of the girth welds has also been studied.


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