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U.S. Department of Energy
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Performance and inspection of flawed pressure vessels

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7341273
The effects of flaws on pressure vessel performance and the ability of NDT techniques to detect and actively monitor these flaws prior to and during burst testing were studied. Twenty flawed and unflawed spherical pressure vessels fabricated from several stainless steels and a titanium alloy were evaluated. The flaws ranged from circumferential machined slots on the inner surface to weld voids and lack of penetration. This interdisciplinary study employed (1) radiography to characterize the defects, (2) acoustic emission and holography during proof-testing to detect the flaws and unsatisfactory structural performance, (3) radiography and acoustic emission to monitor flaw and vessel growth during hydrostatic burst testing, and (4) extensive materials and structural evaluations. The study showed that radiography is an excellent technique for monitoring defect and vessel growth during burst testing. Holography was found to be capable of detecting inner wall defects spanning 10 percent or more of the wall thickness. Except for the titanium vessels, acoustic emission failed to detect flaws in these vessels. In addition, the insensitivity of tough materials to small flaws was verified.
Research Organization:
Sandia Labs., Livermore, Calif. (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AT(29-1)-789
OSTI ID:
7341273
Report Number(s):
SAND-76-8654; CONF-760914-5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English