S.Beech
# 2010 Vancouver
Several well established procedures are used for butt fusion welding of PE pipes globally. The most widely used procedures are the European Single Pressure, UK Dual Pressure, and the USA High Pressure procedures. In the future it may be possible to rationalise these procedures. Materials and machinery developments are resulting in an increasing size range of pipe. Confirmation of the appropriate test methods is required to assure weld quality, to fully understand the properties of the welds and to confirm the suitability of the fusion procedure used.. The PE 100+ Association has established this project to evaluate welds in large diameter thick walled pipe. After consultation with the industry, the German DVS Technological Bend test, the UK WIS Tensile test with energy measurement, and the German DVS Creep test to assess long term properties were selected to evaluate welds made with 1200 mm PE 100 pipe in three thicknesses produced by the three procedures. The results of this programme obtained to date are discussed and conclusions made.
