Procedures to Prevent Rapid Crack Propagation in PE Gas Pipes

Author(s) : Mel Kanninen, Kyle Bethel and Aron Ekelund

It is well known that gas permeation in thermoplastic pipe is proportional to pressure. Accordingly, quantitative consideration must be given to this phenomenon to properly design and operate reinforced thermoplastic composite pipe (RTCP) in high pressure applications. In this paper a permeation predictive model based...

Author(s) : Grigory, Kim, Kanninen, O'Donoghue, Mamo

The perceived need to ensure that polyethylene gas distribution pipes are safe from the possibility of long running catastrophic cracks has prompted a significant level of research recently. This paper brings to a completion an ongoing effort by the authors and their colleagues over the last few years. The...

Author(s) : Grigory, O'Donoghue, Mamoun

Measurements of temperature, power input, and pressure of the molten PE at the pipe-coupling interface in 4-, 6-, and 8-inch (1 14-, 168- and 219-rnm)' electrofusion (EF) couplings were made using instrumented experiments during the fusion cycle. The high temperature properties of several medium and high density...

Author(s) : Kanninen, Buczala, Kuhlman, Green, Grigory, O'Donoghue, McCarth

Most current procedures for the design, installation and qualification of electrofused jointsin polyethylene gas piping systems are empirical in nature. To improve this situation, the Gas Research Institute initiated an integrated experimental and analysis research program at the Southwest Research Institute. The...

Author(s) : Kuhlmann, Kanninen, Tweedy

Accelerated slow crack growth testing procedures that are coupled with newly developed bi-directional time-temperature shifting functions can provide reliable fracture mechanics based forecasts of long-term service performance of polyethylene gas distribution pipes. This methodology is first reviewed, then used in...