New projects

Launchpad, January - February 2008

For a full list of proposed, active and closed projects see here

Improved welding, inspection and integrity of clad pipeline girth welds

Launched: October 2007
Cost per Sponsor: £35 000 pa, two payments
Project Leader: Sayee Raghunathan

The use of clad corrosion resistant alloy (CRA) pipes for the transport of hot and corrosive fluids is desirable as they offer the corrosion resistance of solid CRA materials, whilst the use of a high strength substrate significantly reduces material costs and pipeline weight. However, the dissimilar nature of the materials abutting at the weld joint presents challenges in terms of welding processes, flaw assessment and inspection methods. The project will address these issues through the review of current manufacturing practices for clad pipes, development of improved welding procedures, the use of alternative filler materials, and the development of a procedure for engineering critical assessment (ECA) of girth welds in clad pipelines and reliable inspection techniques.