Crack Consultancy
Consultancy services to take control of cracks
Cracking comes in multiple forms and is one of the most challenging threat for any integrity management team. Cracks may be present from construction, can develop due to cyclic pressure or external loading, they can be caused by high strains, or may develop due to the internal or external environment. The significance of cracks for integrity depends on the dimensions, the material properties, and the loading conditions, all of which come with uncertainties. Therefore predicting when and where cracks may occur and how rapidly they might grow to a critical size is not easy.
Your benefits of our crack consultancy services
SME input for compliance with regulations and codes
Defining the most effective internal inspection combinations
Laboratory investigations to confirm mechanisms
Full scale testing to validate assessments
Appropriate field verification techniques and effective repair methods
Our multidisciplinary team of expert consultants work with operators who know every type of crack related challenge and can advise on all aspects of susceptibility modelling, in-line inspection, field verification techniques, growth rates, material properties, assessment methods, repair options and mitigation approaches.
Subject matter experts in materials, cracking mechanisms, fracture, fatigue and stress analysis are available to help you to thoroughly understand how to assess cracks in pipelines safely, dealing with the the numerous uncertainties pragmatically.
The origins of cracking and how to analyze cracks
The morphology of cracking is highly variable, and there may be many anomalies present in a pipe body, seam weld or girth weld that are not cracks but create crack-like indications in inspection data. Thus, it is difficult to reliably identify different types of cracking based on inspection data alone. The solution is to start with an understanding of the cause of the cracking. This requires experts in pipeline construction, materials, corrosion processes, fatigue, and stress analysis. Once the cause of the cracking is understood it is vital to know the material fracture toughness properties. Only then can appropriate methods be selected to assess the anomalies and model different failure modes.
We have completed multiple assessments of cracks in complex geometries and in interaction with other defects, supported where necessary with finite element analysis, laboratory analysis and full scale testing. We also have the expertise to develop or review fracture control plans for pipelines transporting different gas compositions and support full-scale fracture arrest testing.
Tools used by our internationally recognized experts include in-house software, Signal FFS, TWI Crackwise, MAT8, and ABAQUS.