Analysis and testing

Contamination of foreign particulate is not always visible to the human eye.

When removing an internal part, be sure to utilize Trelleborg services by returning parts to the Vee Bee range facility. An analysis of contaminants can then be performed.

An analysis for metallic, corrosion products and organic contaminants using the most advanced analytic chemistry methods can be provided (IR, SEM & EDS, GCMS).

Based on the results of this analysis, the customer can often pinpoint the failure of upstream components. This enables the customer to carry out the necessary measures to reduce risk of repeated failures.

The state-of-the-art Flow Testing Facility enables continual advancements in performance through the recreation of actual conditions.

Designed by Head of Research & Development and built in-house, the Vee Bee water flow facility is a critical part of the In-House quality testing procedure. A third-party flow testing facility is also available with special rates through Trelleborg; designed to simulate gas/steam flows using air systems.

Qualification of design calculations are checked in first-off designs through to testing the finished product and to destruction in a controlled environment.

Completed designed products are also tested to ensure they meet the most stringent of standard design codes.

Non-Destructive Tests do not damage the material or product being tested. Frequently they are built into production processes - as is the case when pipe tested using eddy current equipment.

This is used to test the manufactured item under pressure - equivalent to or greater than the pressure to be encountered in service.

Most products manufactured endure vigorous testing. Trelleborg Hydrostatic facilities can pressure test up to 910 BarG (13,200 psig) and Pneumatic facilities can test to a pressure of 413 BarG (6,000 psig) nitrogen.

Trelleborg can also offer actual flow proof tests on its in-house liquid flow test rig.

Air proof testing is also available.

Radiography offers a non-destructive method of detecting hidden flaws in materials and fabrications.

A permanent quality record is also provided.

Radiography detects volumetric flaws such as voids, gas pores and solid inclusions.

This is also effective at determining the nature and dimensions (length and width) of flaws.

Radiography cannot be used to measure the dimensions of flaws in the through-thickness direction.

Liquid penetrant testing offers a fast and relatively simple means of surface inspection. This makes it attractive to some industries.

Dye penetrant testing is used as a quick and simple method to ensure welds and other susceptible areas are free from surface-breaking flaws.

MPI is often used to look for cracking at welded joints and in areas identified as being susceptible to environmental cracking (e.g. stress corrosion cracking or hydrogen induced cracking), fatigue cracking or creep cracking.

Wet fluorescent MPI is used to seek environmental damage on the inside of vessels.

Used to seek Planar flaws that break the surface and lie at 90° to the scanned surface e.g. fatigue cracks in weld toes and stress corrosion cracking.

Visual examinations check for obvious problem areas, such as leaks, excess vibration or misalignment.

On exposed metal surfaces, visual examination can also be used to check for corrosion. There are various aids to visual inspection such as magnification, devices for measuring pit depths, weld leg length and surface profiles.

Strain Gauges are small bondable sensors applied to the component. Having no mass or significant effect, Strain Gauges do not degrade the performance of the component.

Static or dynamic loads are applied to the component to determine material stress. This allows loads to be applied to a component to simulate field applications. The data is collected and analyzed and is the basis for fatigue evaluations and failure analysis.

Brittle (coating) Lacquer Testing allows critical stress areas on a component structure to be visualized by stress direction and stress distribution. This provides location and orientation for Strain Gauges.

Testing in liquid nitrogen to required sub-zero temperatures.

Tensile Tests are the most revealing of the mechanical tests and can be performed on a specimen of pipe or tubular material.

By recording gradually increasing applied loads and extensions, a Stress-Strain Graph can be plotted. From this Graph the following values can be computed.

• Tensile Strength
• Yield Strength or Proof Stress
• Elongation
• Elastic Limit or Yield Point
• Modulus of Elasticity
• Reduction of Area

These tests determine the resistance of a material to indentation.

• Brinell Hardness Test
• Vickers Diamond Hardness Test
• Rockwell Hardness Test

A sample is subjected to sudden force to measure toughness or resistance to shock.

• Charpy Impact Test

These tests prove the ductility of certain tubular products and confirm the soundness of welds.

• Bend Tests
• Flange Test
• Flattening Test
• Flare or Drift Test

Various corrosion tests are available using different corrosive environments to indicate the performance of material under heavy duty applications.

• Weld Decay Test
• Strauss Test
• Huey Test
• Potentiostat Test