PR727-243814-R01 State of NDE Technologies Able to Measure or Predict Seam and Pipe Body Toughness

Toughness is an important consideration in fitness-for-service assessments of imperfections in pipe base metal and seams. Various descriptors of toughness are used, but traditionally, all have re-quired destructive testing to quantify toughness. This report summarizes the current and anticipated near term capabilities of various nondestructive technologies for describing the toughness of steel pipe and pipe seams. It serves three purposes, potentially applying to three different types of users:

– For staff associated with technology development, assessment, and selection, it is a re-source for development of future technology validation projects conducted by pipeline operators, service providers, or researchers.

– For the benefit of technology developers, it describes the priorities of the end-user (pipeline operators) with regard to the types of toughness descriptors and technology capabilities that are most highly valued.

– For technical staff with limited familiarity with measurement and use of toughness data, it describes different traditional methods of measuring and using toughness test results.

The technologies reviewed include multiple variants of instrumented indentation testing, the Massachusetts Materials Technology (MMT) Blade Toughness Meter (BTM), the MMT Hardness, Strength and Ductility (HSD) method, small punch test (SPT), in-line inspection (ILI), electro-chemical methods, ultrasonic (UT) methods, and various algorithms (models). The characteristics of each technology were assessed via review of published literature and conversations with subject matter experts to determine the PRCI technology readiness level (TRL) of each technology. The capabilities of each technology were compared to the priorities and preferences expressed by potential technology users and matches and gaps between those capabilities, preferences, and priorities were identified. Recommendations for further technology development, assessment, and validation studies have been developed.