World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology

International Journal of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

Vol:8, No:5, 2014

Analyzing Defects with Failure Assessment

Diagrams of Gas Pipelines
Alfred Hasanaj, Ardit Gjeta, Miranda Kullolli

using the following expressions:

Abstract—The approach in analyzing defects on different pipe
lines is conducted through Failure Assessment Diagram (FAD). Brittle fracture:
These methods of analyses have further extended in recent years.
This approach is used to identify and stress out a solution for the Plastic ruin:
defects which randomly occur with gas pipes such are corrosion
defects, gauge defects, and combination of defects where gauge and
dents are included. Few of the defects are to be analyzed in this paper where, is equivalent to for 1.2 and identical
where our main focus will be the fracture of cast Iron pipes, elastic-
to 1.2 .
Open Science Index, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Vol:8, No:5, 2014 waset.org/Publication/9998748

plastic failure and plastic collapse of X52 steel pipes for gas
transport. We need to conduct a calculation of probability of the
defects in order to predict and avoid such costly defects.
Keywords—Defects, Failure Assessment Diagrams, Safety
Factor Steel Pipes.
I. INTRODUCTION
As result we define the boundary envelope in relation of the
form Kr = f (Sr) presenting these graphically for the relation
among (Kr, Sr) composes the (FAD) [2]. A defect is accepted if
the calculation of these two points (Kr, Sr) is found under the
curve Kr = f(Sr) in the FAD
We further propose three levels of investigations as shown
in Fig. 1.

E NERGY is a key factor to economic development where

gas mounts up large portion of world energy sources.
However, gas fields are located in long distances from the
Level 1 is the basic which is applied in the brittle fractures.
In this case we have limited date on properties of material
and the investigation occurred instantly.
industrialized zones. In order to feed these industries with gas, Level 2 requires the safety factor which is considering for
pipeline transmission systems are needed. maximization of the stress and dimensions of defects and
Gas is a product which can cause security problems for minimizing mechanical properties.
environment, people, and industry. To keep our environment Level 3 is applied when the failure has occurred due to prior
safe, we must analyze any pipeline defects, in order to avoid, plastic deformation.
or at least to minimize the danger that may occur. In order to
avoid the danger which occurs due to external factors, we need
to analyze the defects through Failure Assessment Diagram
(FAD), based on three domains: brittle fracture, elastic-plastic
fracture, and plastic collapse [1].
The defects can occur in different stages of its operation, as
result we have to use several forms for repairing them. In a
particular situation, it can happen that a defect is a small one
and it can be repaired while the pipes are still conducting their
function of transmissions, others can be more problematic
where we have to shut down the transmissions and the others
can be even more problematic where we have to change parts
or the entire section of the pipeline.

II. FAILURE ASSESSMENT DIAGRAM   

Through this diagram we can conduct the calculation of two Fig. 1 FAD three levels of investigation
parameters brittle fracture risk and the plastic ruin for
each of the defects occurring. We can calculate parameters by The equations for each level are given as for following
expressions:
Alfred Hasanaj is with the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Mechanical
Engineering Department currently PhD student at same University, Albania
Level 1: K 0.707 for S 0.8 and K 0 for S 0.8
(phone: 00355 (0) 69341 4265, e-mail: alfred.hasanaj@yahoo.com).
.
Ardit Gjeta was with Polytechnic University of Tirana (phone: 00355
6922- 411-118, e-mail: m_kullolli@yahoo.com). Level 2: K S · ln
Miranda Kullolli is with the Mechanical Engineering Faculty, Albania, ·S
(phone: 00355 2649501, e-mail: arditgjeta@yahoo.com).

International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(5) 2014 1045 ISNI:0000000091950263
 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering
Vol:8, No:5, 2014

. the plastic collapse point which is gained from the following

E· ·
Level 3: K formula (kr=0, Lr= Lr, max).
· · ·E·

The ratio of the tensile curve of the material where the
defect occurs is important to be identified. This curve
establishes a relation among the σ f ε .
While investigating in levels 1 and 2 we must posses data
such are and .In this case Parameter Sr is replaced by:
σ 1 ε
L
σ reasons studding this material is still an appropriate issue until
In the same line we have the relationship as for expression
below: Kr is calculated based on level 3 as below expressed:
III. ELASTIC-PLASTIC FAILURE OF THE STEEL PIPES MADE OF
MATERIAL API X52
X52 Steel is an material which has been used in the past and
it is a considered a very problematic material with the
occurrence of many defects. Some companies are replacing
these materials but still there are hounded of thousands of
kilometers pipe lengths still operating in the world. For these
all of them are replaced. However replacing gas pipes is a very
complex task to fulfill, as result those remain a topic for
analyses.

K 1 0.14L · 0.3 · 0.7 · exp · 65 · L TABLE I

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF API X52 (WEIGHT %)
Open Science Index, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Vol:8, No:5, 2014 waset.org/Publication/9998748

C Mn Si Cr Ni Mo S Cu Ti Nb Al
An example of Domain Failure Assessment Diagram
DFAD is given in Fig. 2 where the assessment point A gives 0.22 1.22 0.24 0.16 0.14 0.06 0.036 0.19 0.04 0.05 0.032

the referring point for coordinates (l*r, k*r) In this case the
FAD is limited by the failure assessment curve which shows TABLE II
us the safe and unsafe pipes [3]. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE API X52 ARE GIVEN
The safe zone is divided in three conventional zones. E (Gpa) Υ Σy(Mpa) Σu A% N K K*C
203 0.30 410 528 32 0.164 876 116.6
If we have the assessment point to be found in this zone
E is Young’s module, Poisson’s ratio, yield stress, ultimate stress,
than the increase of the pressure can cause brittle fracture.
A% relative elongation, n -hardening exponent, K hardening coefficient and
In the zone 2 increased applied pressures than the elastic- Kc* fracture toughness.
plastic fracture can occur. According to Zone 3 plastic
collapse occurs due to increased service pressure. The possibility for the failure of pipe which is made in API
As for the Feddersen Diagram, limits of these two zones are X52 steel is studied when it is found under the service
defined conventionally as expressed below: pressure of 80 bars. The pipe diameter was 218.1 and the
thickness of the wall t=6mm.
Zone 1: 0 <Lr< 0.62Lr,y We have studied three types of defects which are semi-
Zone 2: 0.62Lr,y<Lr< 0.95 LrL elliptical (SE), semi-spherical (SS) and the long notch defect
Zone 3: 0.95Lr,max<Lr<Lr,max (N). Each of the defect depth a is equal to the half of the
thickness and it is considered with length 2c, with a longitude
where Lr,y is associated with the manufactured pressure and direction L.As result we have (t= 6mm, a= t/2, a/c = 0.2. In
Lr,max is the value of Lr. order to define the assessment points volumetric methods are
used where those are reported in DFAD [4].
As result we have gained the safety factor values which are
given in Table III below.
TABLE III
VALUES OBTAINED FROM DFAD FOR THE SAFETY FACTOR
DEFECT TYPE LONGITUDINAL CIRCUMFERENTIAL
SEMI-SPHERICAL 3.91 3.84
SEMI-ELLIPTICAL 3.97 3.47
BLUNT NOTCH 3.61 2.6

Fig. 2 Domain failure assessment diagram

The combination between kr and Lr is a curve which is

gained due to a generation and calculation of an experimental
data. This failure curve is a product which derives as cross cut
of brittle fracture with the assessment point (kr=1, Lr=0) with

International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(5) 2014 1046 ISNI:0000000091950263
 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering
Vol:8, No:5, 2014

Allso we have deefined the elasstic-plasticity of the steel material

m
APPI X52. The result
r gained was the calcuulation of the safety
facctor Fs.

REFEERENCES
[1] C. Schmitt, E.E Hadj-Taieb, G G. Pluvinage, R.R Akid “Water pipeline
failure due to t water hamm mer effects”, Fa atigue and Fraccture of
Engineering Materials
M and Struuctures.
[2] S. Jallouf, Lj. Milović, G. Plluvinage, A. Carrmasol, and S. Sedmak,
Determinationn of safety marginn and reliability factor
f of boiler tuube with
surface crack, Structural Integrrity and Life.
[3] H. Adib, S. Jallouf, C. Schhmitt, A. Carmaasol and G. Plluvinage,
Evaluation of the effect of corrrosion defects on the structural inttegrity of
X52 gas pipeelines using thee SINTAP proceedure and notchh theory
International Journal
J of Pressuure Vessels and Piping.
P
[4] Y. U. Matviennko, Local fractuure criterion to deescribe failure asssessment
diagrams for a body with crackk/notch, Internatioonal Journal of Fracture.
F
[5] G. Pluvinage, 2008, General aapproaches of piipeline defect asssessment
.Safety, Reliaability and Riskss associated wiith water, oil and a Gas
pipelines, Editteur G Pluvinage et M Elwany ,Sp pringer.pp 1-22 ,22007.
Open Science Index, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Vol:8, No:5, 2014 waset.org/Publication/9998748

Fig. 3 Semi elliiptical, Semi Sppherical and notch diagram based on

D
DFAD
Alfreed Hasanaj was Born in Fier Alb bania in 1988. He earned
IV. CALC THE SAFETY FACTOR IN FA
CULATION OF T AD the MSC
M degree from
m the University Polytechnic
P Univ
versity of
Tiranna majoring in “Mechanical
“ Coonstructions and Moving
A calculationn of safety facctor of FAD is i presented inn Fig. 4 Vehiccles”, 2012. Currrently he is folllowing the PhD D studies
annd it is expresssed as for the equation as foollows: topic: "Safety, Reliaability and Rissks Associated in Gas
Pippelines". At the preset
p he works aas Instructor of Mechanical
M engineeering in
privvate education innstitution.
Fs=OB/OC,
= Previously he hash been workinng as part time Instructor
I at Pollytechnic
Unniversity of Tiranaa. He recently hass published severral articles in national and
where Fs are saafety factors. O
w One of the advvantages of Fs is that Inteernational confeerences. He is continuing reseaarch on the mechanics m
it serves as a unique tool for the defining the safee zone. speecifically in gas pipe related fieldds. Polytechnic University
U of Tirrana. He
reccently has publlished several articles in natiional and Interrnational
A
Another advanntage is to usee the Fs for any
a solution ofo non- connferences. He is continuing reseaarch on the mechhanics specificallly in gas
crritical zones [55]. pippe related fields

F 4 Calculation of the safetyy factor

Fig.

V. CONCLUSION
O
By analyzingg FAD we havve classified three
t levels off failure
occcurrence of pipes
p where thhe diagram deefines intervenntion on
thhe fractures which
w can occcur while thhe gas pipes are in
opperation. FAD D defines the distance of seecurity from a given
pooint and defiines three maain zones bassed on the level of
seecurity. We obtain three different seccurity zones: brittle
fraacture, elasticc-plastic fraccture and colllapse plastic zones.

International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(5) 2014 1047 ISNI:0000000091950263