scholarly journals Crack Propagation and Burst Pressure of Pipeline with Restrained and Unrestrained Concentric Dent-Crack Defects Using Extended Finite Element Method

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 7554
Author(s):  
Allan Okodi ◽  
Yong Li ◽  
Roger Cheng ◽  
Muntaseer Kainat ◽  
Nader Yoosef-Ghodsi ◽  
...  

Mechanical damage in form of dents, cracks, gouges, and scratches are common in pipelines. Sometimes, these damages form in proximity of each other and act as one defect in the pipe wall. The combined defects have been found to be more injurious than individual defects. One of the combined defects in pipeline comprises of a crack in a dent, also known as dent-crack defect. This paper discusses the development of finite element models using extended finite element criterion (XFEM) in Abaqus to predict burst pressure of specimens of API X70 pipeline with restrained and unrestrained concentric dent-crack defects. The models are calibrated and validated using results of full-scale burst tests. The effects of crack length, crack depth, dent depth, and denting pressure on burst pressure are investigated. The results show that restrained dent-crack defects with shallow cracks (depth less than 50% wall thickness) inside dents do not affect pipeline operations at maximum allowable operating pressure if crack lengths are less than 200 mm. Releasing restrained dent-cracks when the pressure is at maximum allowable operating pressure can cause propagation of deep cracks (depth of 50% wall thickness or more) longer than 60 mm. However, only very long cracks (200 mm and higher) propagate to burst the pipe. Cracks of depth less than 20% of wall thickness inside dents formed at zero pressure are not propagated by the maximum allowable operating pressure. Dent-crack defects having dents of depth less than 2% outside diameter of pipe behave as plain cracks if the dents are formed at zero denting pressure but are more injurious than plain cracks if the dents are formed in pressurized pipes.

Author(s):  
Xinfang Zhang ◽  
Allan Okodi ◽  
Leichuan Tan ◽  
Juliana Leung ◽  
Samer Adeeb

Abstract Coating and cathodic protection degradation can result in the generation of several types of flaws in pipelines. With the increasing number of aging pipelines, such defects can constitute serious concerns for pipeline integrity. When flaws are detected in pipelines, it is extremely important to have an accurate assessment of the associated failure pressure, which would inform the appropriate remediation decision of repairing or replacing the defected pipelines in a timely manner. Cracks-in-corrosion (CIC) represent a class of defect, for which there are no agreed upon method of assessment, with no existing analytical or numerical models to predict their failure pressures. This paper aims to create a set of validated numerical finite element analysis models that are suitable for accurately predicting the failure pressure of 3D cracks-in-corrosion defects using the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) technique. The XFEM for this study was performed using the commercially available software package, ABAQUS Version 6.19. Five burst tests of API 5L X60 specimens with different defect depths (varying from 52% to 66%) that are available in the literature were used to calibrate the XFEM damage parameters (the maximum principal strain and the fracture energy). These parameters were varied until a reasonable match between the numerical results and the experimental measurements was achieved. Symmetry was used to reduce the computation time. A longitudinally oriented CIC defect was placed at the exterior of the pipe. The profile of the corroded area was assumed to be semi-elliptical. The pressure was monotonically increased in the XFEM model until the crack or damage reached the inner surface of the pipe. The results showed that the extended finite element predictions were in good agreement with the experimental data, with an average error of 5.87%, which was less conservative than the reported finite element method predictions with an average error of 17.4%. Six more CIC models with the same pipe dimension but different crack depths were constructed, in order to investigate the relationship between crack depth and the failure pressure. It was found that the failure pressure decreased with increasing crack depth; when the crack depth exceeded 75% of the total defect depth, the CIC defect could be treated as crack-only defects, since the failure pressure for the CIC model approaches that for the crack-only model for ratios of the crack depth to the total defect depth of 0.75 and 1. The versatility of several existing analytical methods (RSTRENG, LPC and CorLAS) in predicting the failure pressure was also discussed. For the corrosion-only defects, the LPC method predicted the closest failure pressure to that obtained using XFEM (3.5% difference). CorLAS method provided accurate results for crack-only defects with 7% difference. The extended finite element method (XFEM) was found to be very effective in predicting the failure pressure. In addition, compared to the traditional Finite Element Method (FEM) which requires extremely fine meshes and is impractical in modelling a moving crack, the XFEM is computationally efficient while providing accurate predictions.


Author(s):  
Xinfang Zhang ◽  
Meng Lin ◽  
Allan Okodi ◽  
Leichuan Tan ◽  
Juliana Leung ◽  
...  

Abstract Cracks and corrosion in pipelines can occur simultaneously, representing a hybrid defect known as cracks in corrosion (CIC), which is often difficult to model using the available assessment codes or methods. As a result, detailed modeling of CIC has not been studied extensively. In this study, the extended finite element method (XFEM) has been applied to predict the failure pressures of CIC defects in API 5L Grade X42 and X52 pipes. The pipes were only subjected to internal pressure and the XFEM models were validated using full-scale burst tests available in the literature. Several CIC models with constant total defect depths (55%, and 60% of wall thickness) were constructed to investigate the effect of the initial crack depth on the failure pressure. The failure criterion was defined when wall penetration occurred due to crack growth, i.e., the instance the crack reached the innermost element of the pipe wall mesh. It was observed that for shorter cracks, the failure pressure decreased with the increase of the initial crack depth. The results indicated that the CIC defect could be treated as crack-only defects when the initial crack depth exceeded 50% of the total defect depth. However, for longer cracks, the initial crack depth was found to have a negligible effect on the failure pressure, implying that the CIC defect could be treated as either a crack or a corrosion utilizing the available assessment methods.


Author(s):  
Cunjiang Cheng ◽  
G. E. Otto Widera

In this study, the determination of the burst pressure of a series of cylinder-cylinder intersections representing vessels of diameter D and wall thickness T, and nozzles of diameter d and wall thickness t subjected to short-term dynamic loading is investigated. Dynamic simulations via the use of the finite element method are carried out to determine the effects of dimensionless parameters d/D, D/T and t/T as well as pressure vs. time history. The LS-DYNA software is employed to model and analyze various intersections for the geometric parameter ranges 0.1 ≤ d/D < 1.0, 0.1 ≤ t/T ≤ 3 and 50 ≤ D/T ≤ 250. The use of both solid and shell elements is investigated and applied in this study. A correlation equation to predict the dynamic burst pressure of cylinder-cylinder intersections is proposed based on the parametric finite element analyses. Static test data is used to verify the dynamic correlation equation by applying a relatively long pressure pulse duration.


Author(s):  
Justin Gossard ◽  
Joseph Bratton ◽  
David Kemp ◽  
Shane Finneran ◽  
Steven J. Polasik

Dents created by third party mechanical damage are a severe integrity threat to onshore and offshore transmission pipelines. This type of damage is often associated with metal loss, which can be introduced during the initiation of a dent or develop as a result of the presence of a dent and associated coating damage. Once a dent has been found to be associated with metal loss through excavation, there is little guidance to determine the serviceability of the anomaly. In this study, dents with associated metal loss due to corrosion examined in the field are evaluated to determine the contribution of the interacting dent and metal loss features to the associated burst pressure of the feature. Twenty dents with metal loss flaws were identified through an ILI survey while in service to capture dimensions of the dent and metal loss features. Each site was excavated and measured using a laser scanner. The laser scanner produced 3D imaging with sufficient resolution of both the dent and metal loss areas as a 3D surface mesh. The 3D surface mesh was transformed into a 3D solid mesh and analyzed using a finite element analysis software package in order to determine a predicted internal pressure that would cause failure. A subsequent statistical assessment was performed to analyze the relationship between the ILI measurements and the predicted burst pressure resulting from finite element analysis of each dent with metal loss feature. Statistical analyses were used to evaluate the prediction capabilities of burst pressures of dent with metal loss features identified through ILI, prior to excavation and direct examination.


1980 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 342-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Newman ◽  
I. S. Raju

The purpose of this paper is to present stress-intensity factors for a wide range of semi-elliptical surface cracks on the inside of pressurized cylinders. The ratio of crack depth to crack length ranged from 0.2 to 1; the ratio of crack depth to wall thickness ranged from 0.2 to 0.8; and the ratio of wall thickness to vessel radius was 0.1 to 0.25. The stress-intensity factors were calculated by a three-dimensional finite-element method. The finite-element models employ singularity elements along the crack front and linear-strain elements elsewhere. The models had about 6500 degrees of freedom. The stress-intensity factors were evaluated from a nodal-force method. An equation for the stress-intensity factors was obtained from the results of the present analysis. The equation applies over a wide range of configuration parameters and was within about 5 percent of the present results. A comparison was also made between the present results and other analyses of internal surface cracks in cylinders. The results from a boundary-integral equation method were in good agreement (± 2 percent) and those from another finite-element method were in fair agreement (± 8 percent) with the present results.


Symmetry ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Min ◽  
Xu Zhang ◽  
Chengping Zhang ◽  
Yanping Gong ◽  
Tengfei Yuan

Voids behind linings may affect the safety and performance of structures. In this paper, the applicability of the extended finite element method for simulating crack propagation was verified firstly through comparisons between numerical simulations and model tests. Moreover, the mechanical behavior of double-arch tunnels under effects of voids on the top of the middle wall was investigated numerically. Two factors, including void size and tunnel shape, were mainly investigated. The main results obtained were explored including internal forces, deformation and fracturing of the liner. The results showed that voids produced adverse effects on the liner. Internal forces on the liner experienced significant changes and the deformation of the liner increased. Besides, larger crack depth was observed at the crown and the connection between the spandrel and middle wall, indicating a significant decrease in bearing capacity of the structure compared with tunnels without voids.


Author(s):  
Hossein Ghaednia ◽  
Sreekanta Das ◽  
Rick Wang ◽  
Richard Kania

Buried linepipe can be exposed to various external interferences and corrosive environment and as a result, damage in the form of dent or corrosion or crack or gouge or combination of any of these damages can form in the pipe wall. A defect combining dent and crack, often known as dent–crack defect, which may lead to a rupture or leak in the pipe wall and hence, the pipeline operator becomes concerned about the performance and safety of the pipeline. A research was recently completed at the Centre for Engineering Research in Pipelines (CERP), University of Windsor to study the influence of dent depth and operating line pressure on the pressure capacity (burst strength) of 30 in. diameter and X70 grade linepipe. This study found that the dent depth of 12% with crack depth of 4 mm or more can reduce the pressure capacity by 38%. This paper discusses the test specimens, test setup, test procedure, test results, and data obtained from finite element analyses.


Author(s):  
Chike Okoloekwe ◽  
Matthew Fowler ◽  
Amandeep Virk ◽  
Nader Yoosef-Ghodsi ◽  
Muntaseer Kainat

Abstract Dents in a pipe result in alteration of its structural response when subjected to internal pressure. Excavation activities further lead to change in load and boundary conditions of the pipe segment which may exacerbate the stress state within the dented region. Depending on the severity of a dent, excavation under full operating pressure may lead to failure, injuries or fatalities. Although uncommon, an incident has been reported on a gas pipeline where a mechanical damage failed during investigation leading to one death and one injury [10]. While current pipeline regulations require that operators must depressurize a line to ensure safe working conditions during repair activities, there are no detailed provisions available in the codes or standards on how an operator should determine such a safe excavation pressure (SEP). As a result, the safe excavation process of dents has received attention in the industry in recent years. A detailed review of the recent research on dent SEP showed that the current recommendations are primarily dependent on one of two aspects: careful assessment of inline inspection (ILI) data, or a fitness for service (FFS) assessment of the dent feature leveraging numerical models. Enbridge Liquid Pipelines had previously demonstrated a feature specific assessment approach which incorporated both ILI data and finite element analysis (FEA) to determine the SEP. This assessment also accounted for uncertainties associated with material properties and ILI tool measurement. In the previous publication, the authors demonstrated a methodology for assessing the SEP of dents at a conceptual level from both deterministic and reliability-based standpoints. In this paper, a validation study has been performed to compare the results of fracture mechanics based FEA models against ten full scale burst tests available in literature. The study showed good agreement of the burst pressure of dent-crack defects predicted by FEA models with those observed in the full-scale tests. The assessment method is further streamlined by incorporating the API 579 [14] Failure Assessment Diagram (FAD) method on an uncracked FEA model as opposed to explicitly incorporating the crack geometry in the FEA model. The results of FEA in conjunction with FAD are compared with the full-scale tests to ensure accuracy and conservatism of burst pressure prediction. A reliability-based approach is then designed which accounts for the uncertainties associated with the analysis. A case study is presented where the reliability-based SEP assessment method has been implemented and feature specific SEP has been recommended to ensure target reliability during excavation.


Author(s):  
Kyu Jung Yeom ◽  
Yong Kwang Lee ◽  
Kyu Hwan Oh ◽  
Cheol Man Kim ◽  
Woo Sik Kim

Gas pipelines with mechanical damages could affect the structural integrity and causes local stress and strain concentration. Failures in gas pipeline as leakages that could affect the supply of gas, loss of production, and environmental pollution. It is important to determine if pipelines are fitness-for-service. ASME B31G code is still widely used criterion although the assessment method is the conservative method. Further examinations are needed on the effects of material grade and pipeline shape on the burst pressure of damaged pipelines. The goal of this paper is to predict the failure pressure of mechanical damaged made of API X65 and X70 pipelines, by conducting full scale burst tests and finite element analysis (FEA). Different pipeline grades, effects of gouges, and dent depths were considered for an integrity assessment. The full scale burst tests were performed for pipelines with artificial mechanical damage. The gouge defect was made in a V-notch shape and the dented pipeline was generated using a ball shaped indenter that was pressed into the pipe. A three dimensional FEA was performed to obtain the burst pressure of a pipe with gouge and dent defects as a function of defect depth and length. A FEA was used to simulate the and externally damaged pipes under internal pressure. Failure pressure was predicted with stress based and strain based assessments by the finite element method (FEM).


Author(s):  
Adilson C. Benjamin ◽  
Divino J. S. Cunha ◽  
Rita C. C. Silva ◽  
Joa˜o N. C. Guerreiro ◽  
George C. Campello ◽  
...  

The residual fatigue life of a corroded riser joint can be evaluated by means of a fatigue analysis based on S-N data. In this case nominal stresses are determined through a global riser analysis in which the drilling riser is modeled as a tensioned beam subjected to loads throughout its length and with boundary conditions at each end. The effect of the corrosion defects is taken into account multiplying the nominal stresses by stress concentration factors (SCFs) derived by local Finite Element (FE) analyses of the riser joints containing corrosion defects. In this paper stress concentration factors for a drilling riser containing corrosion pits are calculated using solid FE models. These pits are situated on the external surface of the riser joints. Three shapes of corrosion pits are considered: semi spherical, cylindrical wide and cylindrical narrow. Five depths of corrosion pits are considered: 12.6%, 20.1%, 30.2%, 40.3% and 50.3% of the riser wall thickness. The riser outside diameter and the riser wall thickness are 533.4 mm (21 in) and 15.9 mm (0.625 in), respectively.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document