Determination of the Failure Mode and the Rupture Pressure in a Mechanically Damaged Pipeline

The following case study outlines metallurgical, finite element, and fracture mechanics analyses conducted to determine the cause of a pipeline rupture that resulted from prior external damage. Metallurgical and fractographic analyses indicated that the rupture initiated from a shear crack caused by mechanical damage, and that the fracture mode was overload; no indication of progressive growth was observed. Stress and fracture mechanics analysis indicated that the pipe ruptured at a pressure below the maximum allowable operating pressure.

B. A. JamesEmail: