ETUDE DE LA REPARATION DES PIPELINES AVEC PATCH EN COMPOSITE

Abstract

Composite materials have been used to structurally repair piping and other facilities for many years. However, the original use of composite materials was for repairing corroded pipelines where the intent was to restore strength to the damaged section of the pipeline. In addition to repairing corrosion, composite materials have successfully been used to repair dents, wrinkle bends, induction bends, and pipe fittings including elbows and tees as well as repair of offshore risers. In this study, the behaviour of both circumferential and longitudinal through cracks in repaired pipe with bonded composite wrap, subjected to bending moment, internal pressure and tension is investigated using three dimensional finite element analyses using Abaqus as a code compute. In the first part of elastic domain, stress intensity factor is utilized as a fracture criterion, then in the second part of the elastic plastic domain Rice integral is utilized as a fracture criterion. The effects of the mechanical and geometrical properties of the adhesive on the variation of the stress intensity factor and J integral, at the crack front were also analyzed. The obtained results show that the presence of the bonded composite repair reduces significantly SIF and J, which can improve the residual lifespan of the pipe. Meanwhile, SIF and J are also reduced as the elastic and the geometrical wrap properties are improved, particularly when the Young Modulus of the adhesive and the wrap thickness are increased.