Avoidance of Vibration Induced Fatigue Failure in Process Pipework

Learning outcomes:

• To raise the awareness of piping vibration as a failure mechanism
• To provide an understanding of the common vibration related issues on process pipework
• To provide an understanding of the use of the Energy Institute Guidelines as a management tool and assessment methodology to manage the risk of a vibration induced failure
• To provide a basic understanding of pipework vibration survey methods and associated assessment criteria

Course overview:

Day 1: Introduction to piping vibration

• Introduction and industry background
• Typical vibration problems found on process piping systems
• Overview of vibration and fatigue (basic terminology and principles)
• Piping excitation and response mechanisms
• Introduction to risk-based methods & the EI Guidelines

Day 2: Introduction to, and use of, the Energy Institute Guidelines

• Overview of the Guidelines for new designs, existing plant and troubleshooting
• Qualitative and quantitative methods
• Worked examples – troubleshooting & new design
• Methods of managing piping vibration and vibration control options

Day 3: Energy Institute Guidelines (cont) & overview of basic measurement techniques/criteria

• Troubleshooting
• Basic measurement techniques
  o Instrumentation considerations
  o Introduction to vibration velocity, dynamic strain and pulsation measurements
  o Good and bad practice when performing vibration measurements
  o Criteria for assessing piping vibration – vibration velocity and dynamic stress/strain
• Introduction to advanced measurement techniques
• Introduction to detailed simulation
  o Structural modelling
  o Response prediction (turbulent flow, slugging, pulsation, surge, acoustic fatigue)