The integrity of plant, equipment and structures is vital to ensure a continued, safe and economic operation.
Flaws such as cracks, welding defects and corrosion damage can occur during manufacture or service life.
For safety critical items like pipelines and pressure vessels, platforms, rigs and wind turbines the failure of a single component due to the presence of a flaw can threaten human life, as well as presenting severe economic and environmental consequences.
Other flaws may be harmless, as they will not lead to failure during the lifetime of the component.
Replacement or repair of such 'insignificant' flaws is economically wasteful. A fitness-for-service procedure using fracture mechanics principles allows flaws to be evaluated consistently and objectively, and thus enables TWI to make informed and confident decisions on the best measures to be taken.
TWI provides help in:
TWI is highly experienced in the development and application of fitness-for-service (FFS) techniques, particularly for the avoidance of brittle and ductile fracture. TWI can help solve problems that may arise throughout the lifecycle of a component, from design to decommissioning and by so doing risks and costs are minimised.
TWI also plays an active role in developing and maintaining codes, standards and procedures in the area of fracture mechanics testing and structural integrity assessment, including:
- BS 7910 - the UK procedure for assessment of flaws in metallic structures
- R6 - the UK nuclear industry's assessment procedure
- FITNET - the European assessment procedure
- API579-1/ASME FFS-1 - the US FFS procedure
- BS 7448 - the UK standard for fracture mechanics toughness tests
TWI has a proven track record in using the above internationally recognised fracture mechanics procedures but can also devise ad hoc solutions to particular problems, such as using specialist FE modelling or full-scale testing.
TWI's ability to deliver solutions to structural integrity problems is underpinned by its continuing commitment to Research and Development. Its current R&D portfolio, results of which are available to all Industrial Member companies, includes:
- Measurement and modelling of residual stress in multi-pass welds
- Effects of biaxial straining on integrity of pipeline girth welds
- Integrity of clad dissimilar metal joints
For more information please
contact us.
