CARBON STEEL, LOW TEMP AND HIGH YIELD FITTING AND FLANGES
The mechanical properties of steel pipes determine their overall operational performance. In fact, all steel products, fromcarbon steel fittings and flanges to low-temp fittings and flanges to high yield fitting and flanges, possess chemical and mechanical properties that strongly influence their level of performance. The quality of a pipe and/or pipe component is determined by its ability to resist physical stress and fatigue. Steel is created when two things are blended together. Those two elements are iron and carbon. Tungsten, chromium, and manganese might also be added, but carbon is the principal addition. The steel gains strength as more carbon is added, so the higher percentage of carbon there is, the more strength the final steel product will have. More strength means better performance.
Standard pipe, API line pipe and API OCTG line pipe designers and engineers must be knowledgeable of potential physical stresses to properly assess how their constructions will perform during field use. They must pay attention to the mechanical and engineering behavior, as well as the physical and chemical properties, of the desired pipe product(s). Common mechanical properties of steel include yield strength, tensile strength, hardness, ductility, and toughness. It’s not only pipes that endure testing in these ways. Much like a chain only being as strong as its weakest link, highly durable pipes would be of no use if their connections failed. This is why carbon steel fittings and flanges, or connections, are also tested. The testing for all flanges is consistent no matter if the flange is a slip on connection or lap joint.
Mechanical Properties of Steel
Yield Strength
The Yield Strength (YS) of steel is sometimes referred to as yield stress. Yield strength describes the maximum amount of stress at which a material permanently deforms, meaning it cannot return to its original shape once the stress is removed. High yield fittings and flanges are just as susceptible to these deformities as pipes, although bent pipes are what come to mind first. The stress on a flange or fitting might be greatest because of its location relative to seams, making this test critical for determining the long-term success of the material.
Tensile Strength
The Tensile Strength of steel is determined by the maximum stress load a material can endure before it breaks or ruptures. Materials that break without plastic deformation experience brittle failure. Yield strength and tensile strength is established in a laboratory using tensile testing machines.
Hardness
Steel Hardness defines the material’s level of resistance to indentation, deformation, and penetration. Causes of these damages can result from impact, scratching, abrasion, drilling, and other operational wear. Hardness tests are non-destructive and easy to perform. This type of test does not factor in the forces that relate to low temp fittings and flanges, which is covered later.
Ductility
The Ductility of steel determines its ability to withstand tensile stress or any force that pulls two ends of a material apart. Ductility measures the length a material will stretch before it becomes weaker, more brittle or ruptures.
Operational conditions can also impact the physical degradation of a pipe and pipe components. Three load conditions that may be encountered during use in the field include: 1) external pressure, 2) internal pressure, and 3) axial tension.
Load Conditions
- 1. External Pressure:A material’s Collapse Strength is its ability to resist external pressures.
- 2. Internal Pressure: A material’s Internal Yield Strength defines its ability to resist internal pressures or burst pressures. All parts of the process need to withstand pressure, so high yield fittings and flanges are recommended, as they’ve passed the necessary tests.
- 3. Axial Tension: Axial tension is a stress that can elongate a material. The ability to resist axial tension is referred to as Body Yield Strength and Joint Strength (as associated with a particular location of concern).
There are published equations that help pipe designers and engineers predict the performance properties and performance advantages of various pipe products such as carbon steel pipe fittings and flanges, along with pipes themselves. Each performance property is directly influenced by yield strength and/or tensile strength, outside diameter and wall thicknesses. A pipe’s interior wall condition and remaining wall thickness determines its ability to resist burst, tension, and collapse. In addition, its thread condition indicates its resistance to leaks.
In addition to mechanical properties, pipe designers and engineers must also take into account the numerous circumstances and environmental factors that can affect the performance of a pipe and its components. In addition to high heat, one environmental factor is cold, so low temp fittings and flanges must undergo the same tests as pipes for use in extremely cold conditions. Additionally, they must consider potential service-induced defects.
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