Burst Pressure of Glass Fiber Tape Reinforced Polyethylene Pipes With Interlayer Delamination Defect

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Composite Materials

Background:

• Glass fiber tape reinforced polyethylene (GFTRP) pipes are essential for oil and gas transport due to their strength and environmental benefits.
• Interlayer delamination is a prevalent defect in GFTRP pipes, affecting their structural integrity during manufacturing and operational use.
• Understanding the impact of delamination on GFTRP pipe performance is critical for ensuring safety and reliability in high-pressure applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of interlayer delamination defects on the load-bearing capacity of GFTRP pipes.
• To analyze how varying defect widths and axial locations influence the burst pressure of GFTRP pipes.
• To validate numerical models against experimental data for predicting GFTRP pipe failure with delamination.

Main Methods:

• Experimental investigation using burst tests on GFTRP pipes with artificial interlayer delamination defects ([±55°]₁₂ layup).
• Numerical modeling employing a progressive damage model and cohesive element method to simulate delamination failure.
• Comparative analysis of experimental results and numerical predictions to assess model accuracy.

Main Results:

• Interlayer delamination defects were found to significantly reduce the burst pressure of GFTRP pipes.
• The extent of burst pressure reduction varied with different defect widths and axial positions.
• Numerical model predictions demonstrated good agreement with experimental burst pressure data.

Conclusions:

• Interlayer delamination critically compromises the burst pressure of GFTRP pipes.
• Defect width and axial location are key parameters influencing the reduction in load-bearing capacity.
• The combined experimental and numerical approach provides a reliable method for assessing GFTRP pipe integrity with delamination defects.