THE EFFECT OF THE PIPE MATERIAL IN THE BEHAVIOUR OF LONGITUDINAL CRACKS UNDER PRESSURE

DIDIER ILUNGA
Prof JE VAN ZYL & Dr M. DUNDU
SERVICES (PTY) LTD

INTRODUCTION
Problem of leakage Leakage much more sensitive to pressure

Q = Cd A

2 gh
= 0 .5

Q = Cd ( A) 2 g .h

Theoretically, =0.5, In the field, 0.5 2.8

SERVICES (PTY) LTD

 Pipe material behaviour Longitudinal cracks in water pipes

OBJECTIVES
Investigate and understand the structural behaviour of longitudinal crack in pipe with increasing pressure Derive an Equation for crack opening area -Pressure -Material properties

OBJECTIVES
Derive an Equation for leakage flow through a longitudinal crack in uniaxial stress state (used as model) -Geometry of the pipe -Pipe material -Fluid properties Predict an appropriate leakage Equation for pressurised pipes

Based on -Theoretical approach -Experimental verification on flat plate

STRESSES IN PRESSURISED THINCYLINDERS

1( Hoop ) = 2 2 ( Axial )
Stresses in pressurised cylinders

Behaviour of Crack due to Internal Pressure

MECHANICAL EXPLANATION Stress concentration around crack edges Hoop stresses dominate Pressure assists with pushing walls open Curvature of the pipe Cause bulging on crack faces

THEORETICAL APPROACH
x Ny 2a Y Ny W

Rectangular cracked thin-plate under tension

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH
Apply tensile load on the plate material Measure the resulting the deformations until the crack propagating strain starts

Local buckling and crack opening

MAXIMUM CRACK OPENING AREA IN A PLATE

Assuming no crack propagation, the altered shape of the crack

2a

uy

4K uy = E

a2 x2 a

uy max

u y min, x = a
u y max, x = 0

u y max, x = 0
a

u y max

4K = E

u y max

RESULTS
Crack Opening Area, function of Critical buckling load of the plate in uniaxial stress state

vN y cr A = u y . a cr 1 + tE

Crack Opening Area, function of Critical Pressure and Material Properties within a pressurised Pipe in uniaxial stress state

v gh cr R A = u y .a cr 1 + tE

Derived Equation for flow leakage through a longitudinal crack function of Pressure, Material Properties, Pipe geometry and Fluid Properties within a pressurised Pipe in uniaxial stress state
3 1 2 vgRh 2 = C d u y .a h + tE

Qactual

1 (2 g ) 2

Effect of Pressure on Leakage flow due to expansion of the Crack

LOSS ESTIMATION 6.185 l/s at 17 bar 534384 l/day R 2404728/day R 72141840/month

DISCUSSION
Effect of the opening is more important the longer the crack is Buckling mode of the crack in plate is similar to the Bulging mode of a longitudinal crack in pressurised pipe

SUMMARY
Material around the crack bulges out Increase of the leak area due pressure Leakage exponents are considerably larger than 0.5 and increase as the crack area expands.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project research wishes to gratefully acknowledge the financial support from Rand Water.

THANK YOU