Influence of thermal treatment on mechanical properties of UOE linepipe

A. Liessem, M.K. Graef

Europipe GmbH, Ratingen, Germany

G. Knauf, U. Marewski
Mannesmann Forschungsinstitut GmbH, Duisburg, Germany

Abstract

UOE-linepipes are normally coated for corrosion protection. The coating is applied at
temperatures of approximately 200°C. It is known from the literature that thermally
induced processes can be activated at relatively low temperatures and may change
the properties of materials that have been subjected to cold deformation. Certain
applications can benefit from the material modification, for example the collapse
resistance can increase and the material properties can become more
homogeneous.

The main aim of the work was to verify the influence of thermal treatment (coating
simulation) on the mechanical properties of linepipe materials. The investigation was
focussed on a comparison of impact toughness, yield strength and tensile strength
and ductility characteristics.

Furthermore full scale burst test were carried out with special attention to the
influence of the coating process on yield and ultimate burst pressure and also on
circumferential plastic deformation.

KEY WORDS: UOE linepipe, pipeline steels, material properties, coating, ageing,
burst tests, tensile testing, Y/T ratio, circumference elongation

Introduction

It is known from the literature [1] that the mechanical and technological properties of
certain steels are capable of changing within certain limits under exposure to even
fairly low temperatures (T≅200° C). This thermally and time depending induced
process is consciously exploited under the term "bake hardening" in the automotive
industry, for example, in order to increase the yield strength – and, simultaneously,
the load-bearing capacity – of bodyshell metal during painting. The influence of aging
on the resultant material behaviour is also known in the case of pipes produced from
cold-formed plate [2-4], since the "Bauschinger effect" occurring as result of
deformation is reduced.

Very frequently, pipes are coated at temperatures of around 200° C at the end of the
production process. Despite the fact that these temperatures act on the pipe only for
a few minutes during the coating process, it can nonetheless be assumed that the
mechanical and technological properties of the pipe will have changed, after coating,
compared to their initial condition. Since ageing is a temperature-dependent and
time-controlled process, it – and a change in the mechanical and technological
properties of a pipe – must be anticipated even at low temperatures, such as normal
ambient temperature, for example, with extreme long exposure times (e.g. several
years).

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The target of the investigation program performed was that of describing, in terms of
the resultant changes in mechanical and technological properties, the effect of strain
aging caused by cold deformation during pipe forming and, in particular, due to
expansion followed by exposure to moderate heat during PE coating of the pipe.

Experimental Program

The investigations were carried out on cold expanded SAW pipe of grades X60,
X65 sour, X70 and X80. To compare the mechanical properties in the non-aged "as
received" and the "PE-aged" condition, the pipes were cut into two pieces of
approximately the same length. One of the sections of each grade was heat treated
in the coating yard either by coating or simulation of coating (210°C/2’/water).

In order to characterize the material properties present in the pipe, all the tests
described below were performed for both the "as-received" and "PE-aged" states.
The scope of the mechanical and technological tests included tensile tests in
conformity with API 5L and, in addition, tensile tests performed on unflattened round
specimens. Comparative assessment of the material properties found in unflattened
tensile specimens is of particular interest in the context under examination here,
since only unflattened specimens are capable of describing adequately the
component properties of a pipe. The flat API tensile-test specimens taken from the
circumferential direction of pipes are, on the other hand, capable of illustrating, in
particular, modified materials properties, as a result of the straightening process and
the Bauschinger effect thus also imparted [5].

The toughness properties of the materials used are also of decisive importance for
the safety of pipelines. Charpy V-notch impact energy curves were also drafted, and
DWT tests were performed, in order to check these properties, which are necessary,
in particular, for the avoidance of unstable crack propagation.

Full-scale tests performed on pipes in both "as-received" and "PE-aged" condition

formed the central emphasis in the test program conducted. Yield pressures and
rupture pressures, and also local and integral circumferential plastic deformations,
were determined in the context of these tests.

Material Property Tests

Table 1 shows a summary of the characteristics data established during the tensile
tests performed on the test material. The tensile-test specimens were in each case
taken from various circumferential directions of the pipes. The mean values of the
properties from the circumferential direction of the pipes are therefore shown.

It can be seen from the table that an increase in yield strengths (σt0.5), in particular,
has occurred as a result of the heat treatment applied. The increase in tensile
strengths is negligibly low. The yield strength ratio in "PE-aged" condition is therefore
greater than in "as-received" condition. As was expected, comparative assessment
of elongations at fracture against uniform elongations indicates that somewhat
reduced elongations occur in "PE-aged" condition. Figure 1 shows by way of

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example a stress/strain diagram drafted in "as-received" and "PE-aged" condition for
40" dia. X 16.9 mm wt. Grade X70 pipe. It is apparent that a significant increase in
the material's yield strength has occurred as a result of heat treatment, whereas
tensile strength has remained virtually unchanged. Slightly reduced uniform
elongations and elongations at fracture are also observable in "PE-aged" state, due
to the raised yield strength ratio.

Plotting of the characteristics data determined in the tensile test over the
circumferential direction of the pipes (Figure 2) indicates similar variation of material
properties for both conditions.

Figures 3 and 4 show, using the example of pipemaking grades X65 sour and X70,
results obtained from V-notch bending tests. The data points given are the average
values of three individual tests at each test temperature. Comparison of the
"as-received" and "PE-aged" states indicates practically no differences at the impact
energy values determined only a slight shift in and the transition temperature
observed. The influence of aging is therefore not detectable in the context of
CVN notch tests. DWT tests can be used to realistically predict tough or brittle
component behaviour in the case of fracture. Figure 5 again shows a comparative
assessment of the "as-received" and "PE-aged" states in pipemaking grades X65,
X70 and X80. As in the V-notch impact tests, practically no difference is observable
between aged condition and the original material state.

Full-scale Tests

One pipe in each case (length ≅ 12 m) was cut in two prior to performance of the
burst tests, and one half exposed in a coating system to simulated coating. This
procedure was intended to ensure that the results obtained for the "as-received" and
"PE-aged" states in the test were truly representative. Pipe sections of a length of 5
to 6 m were therefore available for performance of the burst tests.

The test sections for the burst tests (as received and aged condition) were converted
into pressure vessels by welding caps to the pipe ends. The circumference of the
vessels were measured at 21 locations along the pipe length before and after they
were pressurized with water up to burst. Figure 6 gives the experimental set up and
instrumentation for the burst tests.

The records of internal pressure vs. increase in volume during the burst tests are
shown for Grade X65sour by way of example for both test conditions in Figure 7.

Figures 8 and 9 show pipes after performance of the burst test. Local strains were
determined by means of wire strain gauges and chains for measurement of
circumferential strains at selected positions on the pipe during the tests (see
Figure 6). In addition, circumferential measurements were also performed across the
entire length of the pipe during the burst test, in order to determine the residual mean
circumferential plastic deformation (εcM) of the ruptured pipe. The two outermost
measuring points were not taken into account in determination of this factor, since
significant clamping effects occur here as a result of the caps welded on to each

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end. Figure 10 shows by way of example a summary of the results obtained after a
burst test.

The factor εcM defined above is a characteristic value determined on the component
and describes deformation capacity in the circumferential direction of a pipe The
non-proportional elongation of the pipe as a result of reduction of cross-section at
fracture is only included in this factor to an extremely limited extent, since the
majority of the measuring points are located outside the fracture zone and, in
addition, the total circumference of the pipe is extremely great in relation to the
reduced-cross-section fracture zone. Factor εcM can, therefore, set against to the
characteristics data from the uniaxial tensile test, best be compared against uniform
elongation AG. The fact that the burst tests performed generate multi-axial stress
states in the component, whereas the tensile test generates a uniaxial load, must be
taken into account in this context, however.

Table 2 shows a summary of the results from the full-scale burst tests performed.
The burst pressures and internal pressures determined at an total strain of 0.5 %
(yield pressures) are plotted. In addition, the factor εcM described above (integral
circumferential plastic deformation) is also stated. The relationship between internal
pressure and the yield strength can be by the “Barlow” equation:

2t
pT = σ t 0 ,5 /1/
Da − t

The corresponding stresses σt0.5 (stress calculated as per /1/ at 0.5 % total strain)
and Rm (stress calculated as per /1/ at maximum pressure) are therefore additionally
plotted in the table for the purposes of comparability. It is apparent, analogously to
the tensile tests performed on round bar specimens in the transverse direction, that
the yield pressures at 0.5 % total strain on the pipe are – particularly in the case of
the aged pipes – extremely close to the maximum pressures measured. In pipes in
"as-received" condition, flow also occurs on the pipe later than in the case of the
characteristics data determined using the round bar tensile specimen. This behaviour
can be explained by the multi-axial stress state present in the component test. In
addition, significant flow in a vessel only occurs when not only the most
load-exposed inner surface of the pipe wall has started to flow but rather only once
plastification of the entire wall thickness has occurred. Comparative assessment of
the measured uniform elongation on the pipe against the corresponding uniform
elongation in the round specimen taken from the circumferential direction (see
Table 1) shows that in all cases significantly lower strains were observed in the
full-scale test. In addition, the pipes in "PE-aged" condition also exhibit lower uniform
elongations than pipes in "as-received" condition.

The correlation shown in Figure 11 results if the yield strength ratio determined on
round specimens (circumferential direction) is plotted against the uniform elongation
in the pipes achieved in the burst test. Further results from the SZMF burst test data
base are also shown in this view, in addition to the test results examined here. The
tests performed in the context of the program described here are within the scatter
band of these data taken from burst tests on UOE as well as HFI pipes.

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It is clearly apparent that the residual uniform elongation determined on the pipe
decrease significantly as yield strength ratio increases. Uniform elongation on the
pipe of around 2 % are achieved at a yield strength ratio of 93 to 94 %.

Comparison of Results to Established Equations

There are several classic strength theories that can be used to analyze material
failure behaviour. The so-called Barlow equation /1/ is used in the majority of
standards for estimation of the yield and fracture performance of pipes and vessels.
The Barlow equation is based on a uniaxial stress state in pipes, with stresses
occurring only in the circumferential direction. In a vessel exposed to internal
pressure, however, a tensile stress is also present in the longitudinal direction, due to
the end caps fitted. Stress intensity hypotheses have been developed for
assessment of material stressing under exposure to multi-axial load, one of the best
known of these hypotheses being the "Maximum Distortion Energy" theory.

1
YS = (σ 1 − σ 2 )2 + (σ 2 − σ 3 )2 + (σ 3 − σ 1 )2 /2/
2
In the Maximum Distortion Energy theory, failure by yielding occurs when the
distortion energy per unit volume in a state of combined stress becomes equal to that
associated with yielding in a simple tensile test.

The yield pressures calculated using Equations /1/ and /2/ are compared against
those determined in the tests described here in Figure 12. Further test results also
obtained in burst tests have been added here to improve comparability.

This figure illustrates that the "Maximum Distortion Energy" theory in most cases
predicts the start of flow more accurately than the "Barlow formula", which very
frequently produces excessively low yield pressures in the case of testing on a
vessel. The PE-aged pipes exhibit no conspicuous differences compared to pipes in
"as-received" condition.

There exist in the relevant literature models for the prediction of complete failure of a
vessel under exposure to internal pressure (burst), of which the most important
models are described in [6]. The hypotheses below exhibited the best accordance
with the data material examined here.

 κ −1 
Maximum shear stress criterion: p H = 2 ⋅ TS ⋅   /3/
 κ +1
D
κ= a
Di

Criterion by Turner [7]: pH = TS ⋅ ln(κ ) /4/

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 1.1 ⋅ TS '
Wellinger and Uebing [8] pH = ln (κ ) /5/
1 + 2.4 AG '
AG ' = ln(1 + AG ) TS ' = (1 + AG ) ⋅ TS

In addition, the Barlow equation /1/ described above manifests very good
accordance if tensile strength TS is used in the equation instead of the material's
yield strength (Figure 13). The "Maximum Distortion Energy" theory examined above
generally produces excessively high burst pressures compared to the test data when
tensile stress is used in the calculation. It becomes apparent that the burst pressures
of PE-aged pipes are also within the normal scatter band and that an adequately
accurate calculation with respect to burst is possible.

More recent theoretical works based on the "Finite Strain" theory [6] demonstrate
that, in the case of burst tests on pipes and the instability case (burst), the uniform
elongation in the body of the pipe must be significantly lower than the uniform
elongation at maximum force in the tensile test. The reasons for this are the
negligibly low strain in the longitudinal direction of the pipe also demonstrated in the
test [9-11] and the incompressibility of the material (ν = 0.5) in the plastic range. A
large number of results from tensile tests (circumferential direction) determined on
large-diameter linepipe steels are shown in Figure 14 to permit direct comparison
against the results from the component tests found in Figure 11. Uniform elongation
is plotted here against yield strength ratio.

As can be derived from Figures 11 and 14, a practically proportional correlation

(εcM ≅ AG /2.5) exists between the uniform elongation determined in the tensile
specimen (circumferential specimen) and the integral circumferential plastic
deformation found in the component.

Conclusions

In the scope of an Europipe project work a test programme was carried out to
evaluate the effect of PE-ageing on the mechanical properties of cold expanded
SAW linepipe.

Tensile, Charpy, DWT and burst tests were carried out on X60, X65(sour), X70 and
X80 SAW pipe. The results of tests performed on Charpy and DWT specimens
indicated that there is no expressed difference between PE-aged and non-aged pipe
material under sudden exposure to load.

The – compared to the result of tensile test - relatively low residual circumferential
plastic deformations in the pipe generally found in burst tests are the result of
multi-dimensional loads and the associated obstruction of strain. Data obtained from
a component test can therefore be compared only indirectly with results obtained in
the tensile test.

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As expected, cold deformation during pipe forming and expansion, and subsequent
heat treatment during the PE coating operation, generally resulted in an increase in
yield strength and Y/T ratio, and in a decrease in strain and elongation values after
PE aging. This effect was observed in both tensile and burst tests. Furthermore, it
can be assumed that aging of the material has occurred in older pipelines which
have already been in operation for a long time, even where these have not been
coated.

While the toughness properties in terms of Charpy and DWTT are not affected, a
certain amount of decrease of the circumferential elongation of cold formed pipes
has to be accepted as a physical response. For typical API linepipe grades up to
X80, values down to 2% or even lower can occur. But up to now, no cases of failure
which could be attributed to aging effects have been reported. Further research
should be focussed defining safe limits for minimum circumferential elongation in
pipes with regard to pipeline design conditions.

Nomenclature
AG = uniform elongation
AG‘ = true strain at uniform elongation
A2“ = elongation after fracture (Lo=2“)
A5 = elongation after fracture (Lo=5do)
Da = outside diameter of pipe
Di = inside diameter of pipe
pH = maximum pressure of pipe
pT = pressure at yield point
Rm = tensile strength
t = wall thickness
TS = tensile strength
TS‘ = true stress at tensile strength
YS = yield strength
Y/T = yield-to-tensile strength ratio
εcM = uniform elongation of the pipe
κ = Da/Di
σ1,2,3 = principal stresses
σt0.5 = stress at 0.5% total limit
ν = poisson’s contraction ratio

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References
[1] Müsken G., Kaiser H.J., 1984. Auswirkungen des Bauschinger-Effektes auf
das Bauteilverhalten hochfester Stähle. Thyssen Technische Berichte. Issue
2/84
[2] Hillenbrand H.G., Graef, M.K., Groß-Weege, J., Knauf G., Marewski U., 2002.
th
Development of Line Pipe for deep-water applications. ISOPE. The 12
International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference & Exhibition. Kyushu
Kitakyushu. Japan. May 26-31.
[3] Gresnigt, van Foeken, Shilin Chen, 2000. Collapse of UOE Manufactured
Steel Pipes. Proceedings of the Tenth (2000) international Offshore and Polar
Engineering Conference Seattle. USA. May 28-June 2., 2000
[4] Al-Sharif, A.M., Preston, R. 1996. Improvement in UOE Pipe Collapse
Resistance by Thermal Ageing. Proceedings of the 28th Annual Offshore
Technology Conference. OTC 8211. Houston May 1996. 579-588
[5] Hohl G., Knauf G., Knoop F.M., 2001. The Effect of Specimen Type on
Tensile Test Results and ist Implications for Linepipe Testing. 3R
international, Nr.10-11 2001
[6] Christopher T., Rama Sarma B.S.V., Govindan Potti P.K., Nageswara Rao B.,
Sankarnarayanasamy K. 2002. A comparative study on failure pressure
estimations of unflawed cylindrical vessels. International Journal of Pressure
Vessels and Piping 79 (2002) 53-66
[7] Turner L.B., 1910. The stresses in a thick hollow cylinder subjected to internal
pressure. Trans Camb. Phil. Soc. 1910. 21.
[8] Wellinger K., Uebing D., 1960. Festigkeitsverhalten dickwandiger Hohlzylinder
unter Innendruck im vollplastischen Bereich. Mitteilungen der Vereinigung der
Großkesselbetreiber. Heft Juni 1960
[9] Crossland B., Bones JA. 1955. The ultimate strength of thick walled cylinders
subjected to internal pressure. Engineering (London) 1955. 179. 80-3
[10] Costantine CJ., 1965. The strength of thin-walled cylinders subjected to
dynamic internal pressures. Trans ASME J. Appl. Mech. 1965. 32. 104-8
[11] Margetson J. 1978. Burst pressure predictions of rocket motors. AIAA paper
No. 78-1569. AIAA/SAE 14th Joint Propulsion Conference, Las Vegas. NV
USA, July 1978

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 Tensile test according to part 1 of DIN EN 10002
Strip specimen API Spec. 5L Round bar spec. B12x60 DIN 50125
Identification σt0.5/R σt0.5/R
σt0.5 Rm A2” σt0.5 Rm AG A5
m m
(MPa) (MPa) (%) (MPa) (MPa) (%) (%)
(%) (%)

X60 30“x14.4mm „as-received” 475 567 84 - 484 578 84 - 23.8

X60 30“x14.4mm „PE-aged” - - - - 522 585 89 - 22.5

X65sour 36“x19.1mm „as-received” 483 543 89 39.6 473 536 88 8.2 26.8

X65sour 36“x19.1mm „PE-aged” 491 553 89 41.9 508 545 93 7.2 24.8

X70 40“x16.9mm „as-received” 518 634 81 33.1 565 645 88 8.06 20.6

X70 40“x16.9mm „PE-aged” 543 641 85 34.5 606 652 93 7.27 19.9

X80 48“x18.3mm „as-received” 599 741 81 35.4 640 742 86 8.7 23.0

X80 48“x18.3mm „PE-aged” 636 766 83 34.2 714 769 93 6.8 21.1

Table 1: Comparison of strength- and ductility-values measured on transverse strip

and round bar specimen

Full-scale-test
Identification PT PH εcM σt0.5 Rm
(bar) (bar) (%) (MPa) (MPa)

X60 30“x14.4mm „as-received” 183 209 4.05 501 543

X60 30“x14.4mm „PE-aged” 209 219 3.11 543 568

X65sour 36“x19.1mm „as-received” 228 236 3.29 534 553

X65sour 36“x19.1mm „PE-aged” 240 243 2.12 562 570

X70 40“x16.9mm „as-received” 217 231 4.27 641 683

X70 40“x16.9mm „PE-aged” 226 235 3.30 668 695

X80 48“x18.3mm „as-received” 195 219 3.55 640 719

X80 48“x18.3mm „PE-aged” 218 227 2.36 715 744

Table 2: Comparison of strength- and ductility-values of unaged and PE-aged pipes

determined in full-scale-tests

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Figure 1:Comparison of the stress-strain curves in the as-received and PE-aged
conditions (transverse round bar specimen)

10 / 18
Figure 3: Transverse Charpy V-notch impact energy curves for the pipe body
material

Figure 4: Transverse Charpy V-notch impact energy curves for the pipe body
material

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