JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #73 - June 2012 - 80

The same test set-up was used for a collapse pressure test that consisted in applying external hydraulic pressure to the pipe in an enclosed shell. This test is useful to predict the behaviour of pipes, tubing and fittings under various conditions of temperature, time, loading and hoop stress. After all the necessary tests were successfully carried out and the detailed audit performed by API, EPP Composites received the API certificate (API spec Q1 and API spec 15LR) in October 2011 for composite pipes and fittings with pipe diameters up to 24” and operating pressures up to 1000 psig. The company was the first in South Asia and 17th in the world to obtain the API 15LR certification for composite pipes. a 12-m pipe length over 1.0 min at 1.5 times the design pressure. In the long-term tests, 1.0-m pipe lengths were subjected to 2.0 times the design pressure for a minimum of 5,000 hours. In addition, API recommends a long-term cyclic loading test for a minimum of 10,000 hours or 15 million cycles. The test encompassed exposing a minimum of 18 specimens of pipes or fittings or both to cyclic internal pressures at 25 cycles/min and at different pressures. Elevated test temperatures were obtained by circulating hot water through the specimens. The equipment for the hydraulic burst and collapse tests on composite pipes was designed based on the test methods described in ASTM D1599 and D2924. The burst test method involved loading a specimen to failure or a predetermined minimum level in a short time interval by continuously increasing the internal hydraulic pressure in a temperature-controlled environment. This test method is used to establish the short-time hydraulic failure pressure of reinforced thermosetting resin pipes or fittings.

Filament winding in progress

plate crush testing system and an impact resistance testing system, in addition to the long-term cyclic and hydrostatic (internal and collapse) pressure testing machines. All the tests (type and routine) were carried out for the samples as per API guidelines, including long-term static and cyclic hydro testing. The short- and long-term hydrostatic and/or cyclic loading tests as per ASTM D2992 were critical requirements for API. The corresponding special-purpose equipment was designed and developed for the first time in India and this was a milestone achievement for the project. The short-term tests were conducted on

Conclusion
The global demand for epoxy-based pipes has been estimated at 216,000 MT/year, while India has an annual requirement of 4.6 MT of GRE pipes with an annual growth rate of 9%. The 12th Five-year Plan of the Government of India has estimated the requirement at 18,000 km of pipelines with an investment of USD 9 billion by 2015. There will be huge investments in the oil & gas sector, calling for new players to manufacture composite pipes as per API standards. Armed with the API certification, EPP Composites will be well positioned to cater to the surging demand expected from the growing Indian economy and the international market. This marks an innovative technological achievement for the Indian composites industry. n
More information: www.tifac.org.in Contact: compotifac@gmail.com jayrajshah@atikagroup.com scsl@aero.iitb.ac.in sclakkad@gmail.com

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Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) is an autonomous organization set up in 1988 under the Department of Science & Technology to look ahead in technologies, assess the technology trajectories, and support technology innovation by network actions in select technology areas of national importance.

80 jec composites magazine / No73 June 2012

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JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #73 - June 2012

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