Fracture Analysis

Pipe Stress Analysis

An Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA) provides a structured approach for evaluating the significance of cracks in structures. At the heart of ECA lies fracture mechanics principles, which analyse the behaviour of materials under the influence of stress and cracks. By employing advanced analytical and computational techniques, our engineers can assess factors such as crack size, geometry, material properties, and loading conditions to determine the likelihood of crack propagation and failure.

Our engineers have experience undertaking defect assessments to the requirements of: BS 7910, API 579, API 1104 & CSA Z662.

We have experience assisting clients with the following:

Aid in the selection of welding procedures or inspection techniques.
Determine minimum required fracture toughness or maximum loads.
Assess the effectiveness of proposed hydrostatic test pressures.
Assess theoretical defects given by codes and standards.
Justify the avoidance of heat treatment where it is impractical.
Assess flaws found in service, and to assist in the selection of an appropriate course of action.

Each code offers multiple approaches for conducting an ECA, with progressively increasing complexity to eliminate unwanted conservatisms. The options for performing an ECA to the requirements of BS 7910 are discussed below:

Option 1
There are varying degrees of complexity for undertaking an ECA in accordance with BS 7190. An 'Option 1' assessment makes use of the general FAD curve.

Option 2
An 'Option 2' assessment requires a detailed description of the true stress versus true strain for the material, eradicating some of the conservatisms of an Option 1 assessment.

Option 3
An 'Option 3' assessment provides the most detailed and accurate assessment of structural integrity, considering a wide range of factors and providing a comprehensive understanding of the behaviour of flaws in a structure. Option 3 relies on numerical analyses (FEA) to determine both the plastic collapse load and Stress Intensity Factor solution (SIF).

Pipe Stress Analysis

Pipe Stress Analysis

Pipe Stress Analysis

Pipe Stress Analysis

Pipe Stress Analysis

Fracture Analysis

Each code offers multiple approaches for conducting an ECA, with progressively increasing complexity to eliminate unwanted conservatisms. The options for performing an ECA to the requirements of BS 7910 are discussed below:

Option 1 There are varying degrees of complexity for undertaking an ECA in accordance with BS 7190. An 'Option 1' assessment makes use of the general FAD curve.

Option 2 An 'Option 2' assessment requires a detailed description of the true stress versus true strain for the material, eradicating some of the conservatisms of an Option 1 assessment.

Option 1
There are varying degrees of complexity for undertaking an ECA in accordance with BS 7190. An 'Option 1' assessment makes use of the general FAD curve.

Option 2
An 'Option 2' assessment requires a detailed description of the true stress versus true strain for the material, eradicating some of the conservatisms of an Option 1 assessment.