ECA Course (Online)

Service Description

This course delves into the practical implementation of Fitness-For-Service (FFS) and Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA), with a specific focus on pipelines and structures. While BS7910 and API 579 primarily focus on stress-based methodologies, this course expands into strain-based analyses of pipelines with girth weld flaws, offering an array of methods and software tools for assessing the tensile strain capacity of pipelines under high strain conditions. Additionally, it provides an introductory overview of finite element analysis (FEA) to ascertain stress and strain inputs for analysis and covers advanced flaw modelling and J-integral analysis to determine crack driving force. Theoretical Foundations Participants will delve into the theoretical underpinnings of elastic and elastic-plastic fracture mechanics, failure assessment diagram (FAD) methods, fatigue crack growth, and tearing analysis. Practical insights into elastic-plastic fracture toughness testing of welds and non-destructive testing for flaw sizing will also be provided, along with the development of alternative flaw acceptance criteria for pipeline installation. Course Structure The course spans four days, with the initial three days focusing on applications involving: • Typical fracture and fatigue failures • Overview of Fitness for Purpose Methods • Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue Theory • Fracture Mechanics testing • Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques • Introduction to BS7910 and DNV OS-F101 and Failure Assessment Diagram (FAD) • approach Fatigue assessment to BS7910 • Sour-Service ECA • Case studies and worked examples. The fourth day introduces participants to finite element modelling, defining boundary conditions, material models, and conducting finite element-based fracture mechanics analysis to generate stress/strain inputs for general design and ECA/FFS assessments.