Plastic Pipes Conference Association # 2012 Barcelona
Peter Postma & Hermkens René
The suitability of non destructive techniques for testing polyethylene pipe joints are
investigated in a GERG (European Gas Research Group, www.gerg.eu) project. The
results show that :
• Both Ultrasonic and Microwave techniques have developed to a mature level.
• For electrofusion joints good results are obtained with Ultrasonic Phased
Array techniques. These techniques are ready for practice, and in some
cases already applied as such.
• For butt fusion joints CHORD Ultrasonic testing is showing good results, but
this method is only tested to a limited extent in this project. Both Ultrasonic
TOFD and Microwave techniques show some indication on the joint quality
but both techniques need further development.
• The Bead Bend Back test that is used in the UK to examine butt fusion joints
shows good results. This technique is quite simple and can be considered as
an NDT technique as well
The different techniques have been assessed on their maturity and suitability to be
used in practice. The techniques have been tested on both laboratory made joints
and excavated joints, about 180 different joints in total. The laboratory joints are a
mix of good joints and joints with certain type of errors introduced deliberately. The
joints have been sent to NDT companies for blind testing (without any knowledge
about the introduced errors). Afterwards the joints have been destructively tested in
accordance with ISO standards. The results of the Non Destructive Techniques have
been compared with the introduced errors and the results of destructive tests . This
GERG investigation shows the possibilities and performance of current techniques,
and what further steps need be to taken to use the techniques in practice.
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