Design, testing and field deployment of a composite clamp for pipeline repairs

Abstract

A novel method of repairing leaking or otherwise damaged metallic pipelines using composites is presented. The method uses a uniquely designed resin-infused composite clamp. This is a significant improvement over commercially available metal clamps, providing lightweight and corrosion-resistant benefits. The design, analyses and testing presented here show that these benefits are in addition to providing uncompromising strength and reliability to the repaired structure. The design includes a combination of calculations and design of experiment optimisation with Finite Element models. The developed design methodology is shown to be robust for designing different clamp sizes. Testing involved short-and long-term survival tests of the clamps as per industrial standards, as well as hot-wet conditioning followed by mechanical testing of the composite material. Finally, a case study field deployment of the clamp on a 4-in propane pipeline with internal corrosion is presented.

Hydrodynamic Load Analysis and Experimental Study of Grouting Clamp under Wave and Ocean Current

“…This method uses a uniquely designed resin injected into the composite clamp. Significant improvements to commercial metal clamps have achieved light weight and corrosion resistance [5]. In 2018, Gunnar Solland and Atle Johansen and others summarized the current design rules of grouting pile-sleeve connection, and conducted compression and tensile axial load experiments on the grouting clamps, respectively, and proposed a new design formula [6].…”

“…It can be seen from the above literature that in the past 30 years, countries around the world have made a lot of contributions to the research of grouting clamping, mainly in the pressure grouting clamp mechanics experiment, the expansion pressure is obtained [2]; compare various maintenance methods and select the most suitable reinforcement method [3]; verification of the feasibility of using advanced composite clamps for repair methods [4,5]; summarize the design rules of grouting clamp repair and propose a new design formula [6]. The main contribution in China is to study the T-tube joint grouting clamp [7]; crack repair using tensioned grouting clamps [8]; carrying capacity test of self-stress grouting clamps [9]; bearing capacity test of self-stressing grouting clamp [10].…”

Optimization of sealing parameters of double-sealing pipeline repair clamp

“…A composite clamp with light weight and good corrosion resistance has been developed. The calculation method of the wall thickness of the composite clamp has been introduced, and the mechanical behavior of the composite clamp has been calculated by the finite element method (Sum et al, 2016). A fiber-reinforced polymer composite clamp has been developed, and its design method has been described in detail and verified by experiments (Djukic et al, 2015).…”

Numerical prediction of diffusion barrier performance of flake reinforced nanocomposites

“…Nanocomposites typically consist of nanoscale reinforcements like carbon nanotubes, graphene and montmorillonite dispersed in a matrix material such as a polymer. The introduction of these reinforcements, even in relatively small amounts, has been shown to significantly affect the overall performance of the nanocomposites, such as barrier properties, tensile strength, shrinkage, bond integrity and wear rates [1][2][3][4][5].…”