Weld Residual Stress Phase II - Testing

This project seeks to demonstrate the reductions in weld residual stress assumptions that have been suggested by the Phase I Literature Review project. A test programme will be conducted to measure residual stress in pipelines indicative of those on the gas network, and subject them to hydrostatic pressures as seen in the period correct commissioning tests. These residual stress results will be fed into a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model to scale up to other sizes and grades representative of the gas network. Residual stress tests will also be performed on extracted ex-service pipework in order to validate the ‘fresh’ pipeline tests and the FEA modelling.