Seam-weld quality of modern ERW/HFI line pipe

Technical Report · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:10195038

Groeneveld, T P; Barnes, C R ^[1]

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1. Battelle, Columbus, OH (United States)

This study was undertaken to determine whether the seam-weld quality of modern ERW (electric resistance-welded)/HFI (high-frequency induction) welded pipe has been improved and justifies more widespread use of this type of pipe in critical applications. Wider use of ERW/HFI line pipe in gas-transmission lines would be expected to reduce construction costs. Five recently produced, heavy wall pipes fabricated using high-frequency electric-resistance welding (ERW) processes to make the seam weld and one pipe fabricated using the high-frequency induction (HFI) welding process to make the seam weld were studied. Four of the pipes were Grade X-60, one was Grade X-65, and one was Grade X-70. All of the pipes were produced from microalloyed, controlled-rolled steels, and the weld zones were post-weld normalized. Ultrasonic inspection of the seam welds in the six pipe sections evaluated revealed no indications of defects. The tensile properties of all of the weld zones exceeded the minimum specified yield strengths for the respective grades of pipe and all of the pipes exhibited ductile failures either in the weld zone or in the base metal. Five of the six pipes exhibited ductile failures either in the weld zone or in the base metal. Five of the six pipes exhibited relatively low 85% shear area transition temperatures and relatively high upper-shelf energy absorptions as determined with Charpy V-notch specimens. In addition, for two of the three joints of pipe for which the properties were determined at both ends of the pipe, the tensile and impact properties showed little variation from end-to-end. However, for the other joint of pipe, the impact properties varied substantially from one end to the other.

• Research Organization: American Gas Association, Inc., Arlington, VA (United States). Pipeline Research Committee; Battelle, Columbus, OH (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: American Gas Association, Inc., Arlington, VA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 10195038
• Report Number(s): NG--18/198; ON: UN94003346
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
032000
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360101
360103
42 ENGINEERING
420500
DUCTILITY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FAILURES
HARDNESS
INDUCTION WELDING
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
PIPES
PREPARATION AND FABRICATION
RESISTANCE WELDING
SHEAR PROPERTIES
STEELS
TRANSPORT, HANDLING, AND STORAGE
ULTRASONIC TESTING
WELDED JOINTS
YIELD STRENGTH