From land to sea, maintenance is required for worldwide operations to run smoothly. In terms of the ocean, rigorous testing on the pipes is a must. 

 

If you take a look at the top 10 trucking and logistics facts of today, it makes interesting reading! One thing a lot of people do not realize is that there is a lot going on behind the scenes to keep everything ticking. 

 

When looking for the best split pipe supplier to assist you with the design, supply and installation of the articulated pipe system you require, one of the most important things you need to look at is the testing that they carry out on their products. 

 

Stringent testing is of paramount importance, as any error or lapse in quality could result in tremendous damage and millions of pounds lost. 

 

So, with that in mind, it is a good idea to take a look at some of the key tests suppliers to carry out on articulated pipe cable protection so you know what you are looking for and what determines whether pipework is deemed suitable for such offshore operations. 

 

Not only should the supplier carry out these tests, but they should provide certification too. These are known as mechanical acceptance tests, which are design to verify the integrity of the design and manufacture of the pipework.

 

Tension is one of the first things that will be considered. To determine whether this element is sufficient, three pipe pairs will be assembled so they form a length of one and a half meters. This will then be subject to a tension increase of up to 15 tonnes, which will need to be held for more than five minutes. The pipes will pass the test if there is no casting elongation or fracture over the 1.5 meters of more than 0.5 percent, which equates to 7.5 mm. 

 

Tension is not the only quality that needs to be assessed. The bend test is another important part of the process for determining the suitability of the split pipe. This involves assembling four pipe pairs in horizontal orientation, using three suitable strops to connect the pipes by attaching them in ‘choke’ formation. The two end strops are going to be wrapped around every assembly end as near to the outer knuckle as can be achieved.

 

The third strop is then fixed to the assembly’s central knuckle – this is known as the choke. Once this has been done, 750k test weights will be attached to both end strops. A calibrated tension-measuring device will then be applied to the central strop.

 

The assembly will then be raised via the central strop using lift equipment. It is lifted until there is 1.5 tonnes indicated on the central calibrated load cell or both test weights are suspended. In order to pass this part of the test, 1.5 tonnes lifting force needs to be maintained without any failure for five minutes at least. 

 

Next, we have the crush test procedure to be carried out on the split casing pipe. So, how does this test work? Two pipe pairs will be put together into a length of one meter while interlocked. They will be laid in the horizontal orientation on a pre-fabricated tray level, which is filled with sand. The assembly will be half-buried with sand. It is vital that the center of a circular hydraulic compression ram of diameter 100 mm is center of pipe directly and laterally over the apex.