In-Service Welding : Thermo-Mechanical Analysis for Burn-Through Possibility in Gas Pipelines

Project Background
The project aimed to assess the potential occurrence of burn-through on a gas pipeline during in-service welding, a critical concern for operational safety.

Methodology and Approach
Utilizing ABAQUS, our team implemented a subroutine to apply a non-uniform distributed flux, accounting for time, position, and temperature during heat transfer analysis. Additionally, a FORTRAN script was developed, employing a gaussian power density distribution to represent the welding heat flux.

Challenges
Encountering challenges in sourcing accurate thermal material properties and complex heat flux calculations, our team navigated these hurdles by referencing data and calculations from relevant papers.

Outcome
The project’s key achievement lay in our capability to determine the burn-through possibility during welding. Parameters such as inner surface temperature, plastic strain, and stress were constrained according to ASME 31.8 and ASME BPVC VIII Div.2 standards. This ensured the client’s ongoing operations without the worry of burn-through during in-service welding, allowing uninterrupted pipeline functionality under various conditions.

Highlights:

1. Thermo-Mechanical Expertise:
   • Proficiency in conducting thermo-mechanical analyses using subroutine scripts to represent welding heat flux.
2. Safety Assurance:
   • The ability to determine burn-through possibilities, ensuring operational safety during in-service welding.
3. Compliance with Standards:
   • Strict adherence to ASME 31.8 and ASME BPVC VIII Div.2 standards in limiting critical parameters.

This project underscores our adeptness in combining advanced analytical tools and industry standards to deliver solutions that prioritize safety and operational continuity.