Pipeline Plain Dent Fatigue: A Comparison of Assessment Methodologies

Abstract

A collection of results of fatigue tests undertaken on full scale pipeline specimens containing unconstrained plain dents is presented. A total of 61 test results are reported, comprising dents of different shapes and depths, introduced in pipe sections with nominal diameters of 12″ and 24″, D/t ratios varying from 18.6 to 77.2 and made of API 5L X42, X46, X52, X60, X70 and X80 steels. The fatigue test results are used to compare five plain dent fatigue assessment methodologies. The assessment methodologies most widely used in the industry, namely, API 1156 and EPRG, are evaluated; each one of these has two different versions, evaluated independently. A dent assessment methodology previously proposed by the authors is also is included in the study. The classic Palmgren-Miner’s cumulative fatigue damage rule is employed in order to correlate the results, since all tests were carried out with two different pressure cycles. Only two of the evaluated methodologies presented a correlation with the fatigue tests that justifies recommending their application in the industry.