Effects of Repair Weld on Residual Stress Distributions in Offshore Pipelines

摘要

Subjects related to strength and durability of structures such as oil and gas transmission pipelines are of great importance. Considering the special characteristics of these structures including their construction and harsh working environment, they are especially prone to different types of damages. Repair welding is a viable option to mitigate such damages and for restoration of the strength and resistance of these structures. In this paper, a numerical coupled thermo-mechanical finite element modelling approach is conducted to simulate the welding and the repair welding process. The results of the study show that repair welds may well have adverse effects on the residual stress magnitude and on its distribution. This might in turn potentially put the integrity of the pipeline at risk.