Application of the Internal Friction Damping-Nondestructive Evaluation Technique for Identification of Degradation and Failure of Shipboard Cargo Piping

摘要

This report discusses the research concerning the technical feasibility of applying an Internal Friction Damping-Nondestructive Evaluation (IFD-NDE) technique to cargo piping systems. The specific application addresses the problem of accurately identifying pipe sections degraded sufficiently to warrant repair or removal in a cost effective manner utilizing the IFD-NDE technique. The research effort includes laboratory testing of new and used pipe samples, varying from four inches to sixteen inches nominal diameter; field testing of cargo piping sections; development of a computer integrated equipment package; and evaluation of the equipment relative to intrinsic safety regulations of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. and the United States Coast Guard. A field demonstration of the technique application concluded the program effort. The report concludes the feasibility of applying the IFD-NDE technique to cargo piping sections and proposes a field equipment package and test scenario for the maritime industry.