ECA vs Batelle Fracture Control
ECA vs Batelle Fracture Control
(OP)
If a series of out of spec welds are suspected on a pipeline (e.g. the welds have not been to DnV spec), what is the best method to assess whether they are fit for service. ECA or Batelle?





RE: ECA vs Batelle Fracture Control
RE: ECA vs Batelle Fracture Control
Steve Jones
Materials & Corrosion Engineer
http://www.pdo.co.om/pdo/
RE: ECA vs Batelle Fracture Control
I understood that the Battelle fracture model predicts the toughness required to prevent fracture initiation in the girth weld.
The pipe has fracture arrest properties based on DNV linepipe requirements, so the girth weld only requires toughness to prevent fracture initiation.
DNV requires matching arrest properties in the girth weld to that of the pipe body. This is considered by some to be conservative
Analyzing CVN values based on requirements to prevent fracture initiation in the weld metal requires only a fraction of the toughness in the girth weld as compared to the pipe body.
Therefore wouldn't the Battelle fracture control method for gas pipelines be a good basis for setting gas pipeline toughness requirements for both the girth weld and pipe body