FAILURE ANALYSIS: Failure of Glass-Reinforced Epoxy Material Piping Components on an Offshore Platform

摘要

Glass-reinforced epoxy (GRE) is a synergistic combination of two or more materials with a reinforcement of E-glass fiber. The brittle nature of the material demands careful handling during transportation, fabrication, and installation. This article describes the analysis of components that failed in a GRE piping system. The failed components were examined through destructive and nondestructive tests. The failure modes and analysis revealed that the combined effect of manufacturing defects and installation practices caused various types of failures.