Ductile fractures in natural gas and other high-energy pipelines could be arrested by either toughness in the pipe body or by a crack arrestor device. Although numerous crack arrestor devices have been proposed and patented, the mechanical crack arrestor that surrounds the outside of the pipe (external sleeve type) is the most common type of arrestor. This paper presents an empirically based criteria developed for the optimization of the design of mechanical crack arrestors. The initial development was based on a significant number of steel sleeve crack arrestors with different radial spacings (with and without grouting) and axial lengths that had the same thickness and strength as the main-line pipe. That work was extended to circular cross-section (toroidal) arrestors with different mechanical connectors to eliminate the need for welding. These crack arrestor tests were on 152 and 304 mm (6 and 12-inch) diameter pipes pressurized with nitrogen, rich gas, and liquid carbon dioxide that produce radically different crack-driving forces. It will be shown that the arrestor size is related to the velocity of the ductile fracture as it enters the arrestor, i.e., the fracture velocity is a measure of the instability that needs to be overcome for arrest. A limited number of results from full-scale tests are also presented to validate the design guidelines from this project. Finally, it will be shown how the results could be expanded for composite arrestors.
Skip Nav Destination
2006 International Pipeline Conference
September 25–29, 2006
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Conference Sponsors:
- Pipeline Division
ISBN:
0-7918-4263-0
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
How to Optimize the Design of Mechanical Crack Arrestors
G. Wilkowski,
G. Wilkowski
Engineering Mechanics Corporation of Columbus, Columbus, OH
Search for other works by this author on:
D. Rudland,
D. Rudland
Engineering Mechanics Corporation of Columbus, Columbus, OH
Search for other works by this author on:
B. Rothwell
B. Rothwell
TransCanada PipeLines Limited, Calgary, AB, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
G. Wilkowski
Engineering Mechanics Corporation of Columbus, Columbus, OH
D. Rudland
Engineering Mechanics Corporation of Columbus, Columbus, OH
B. Rothwell
TransCanada PipeLines Limited, Calgary, AB, Canada
Paper No:
IPC2006-10357, pp. 393-405; 13 pages
Published Online:
October 2, 2008
Citation
Wilkowski, G, Rudland, D, & Rothwell, B. "How to Optimize the Design of Mechanical Crack Arrestors." Proceedings of the 2006 International Pipeline Conference. Volume 3: Materials and Joining; Pipeline Automation and Measurement; Risk and Reliability, Parts A and B. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. September 25–29, 2006. pp. 393-405. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IPC2006-10357
Download citation file:
78
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
The Effect of Prestrain on Ductile Fracture Toughness of Reeled Pipeline Steels
J. Pressure Vessel Technol (June,2011)
Prediction of Ductile-to-Brittle Transition Under Different Strain Rates in Undermatched Welded Joints
J. Pressure Vessel Technol (June,2011)
Ductile Fracture Propagation and Arrest in Offshore Pipelines
Appl. Mech. Rev (February,1988)
Related Chapters
Re-Qualification of Existing Subsea Pipelines for CO 2 and H 2 Transport, Structural Integrity Challenges
Ageing and Life Extension of Offshore Facilities
Applications of Elastic-Plastic Fracture Mechanics in Section XI, ASME Code Evaluations
Online Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Codes
TENSILE STRAIN MODELS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS
Pipeline Integrity Management Under Geohazard Conditions (PIMG)