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Impact Test Requirement
Impact Test Requirement
Let's say, you have a pressure vessel under design, process and
construction has not started yet.
There are 4 steps for impact test exemption assessment. You need to
know these steps. You might be exempted in the first, second or third
steps and might not be exempted even in step 4.
So if you are in step 4 and you have not exempted, then you need to
carry out the test. I will explain the process for exemption in this
article.
Basic Concept:
You may know carbon steels and low alloy steels exhibit a drastic
change in their room temperature ductility at sub-zero service
temperatures. Different types of materials exhibit different types of
transition behavior.
ASME Code Section VIII Div 1 exemption rules for ASME Impact
Test Requirement:
There are specific rules in ASME Code for exemption from ASME
Impact Test Requirement. This test is very expensive, so pressure
vessel manufacturers are trying to be exempted for this costly test.
First you have to keep your pressure vessel design data available and
then refer to UG-20 (f). If you are exempted from this clause, you do
not need proceed further.
But if you are not exempted by UG-20 (f), you have to proceed to
UCS-66(a), but again if you are exempted, there is no need for more
assessment.
For some cases, You might be exempted from the ASME impact test
requirement in the first stage in UG-20 (f). In others, You might be
exempted in UCS-66(a) or UCS-66(b) or UCS-68(c). If you are not
exempted, you must prepare yourself for doing this costly test.
UG-20(f)
We will start with UG-20(f) for the ASME impact test requirement. If
your MOC (Material of Construction) is categorized in P-No. 1 or 2
(Refer to ASME Code Section IX for P-No Definition) and your MOC
thickness has the limited value defined in this clause, then you might
be exempted from impact testing.
But you need to refer to Fig UCS-66 in ASME Code Section VIII Div 1
and see in which A, B, C or D curves your MOC is listed. All ASME
carbon steel and low alloy steel material is distributed in these 4
groups (Curves) of materials.
You need to know that the materials listed in curve D have the best
toughness property, better than the materials listed in curve C.
Similarly materials listed in curve C have better toughness properties
compared to materials listed in curve B and materials listed in Curve B
have better toughness than materials listed in Curve A .
For example, if your MOC is a normalized SA 516 Gr.70 with 0.75 inch
thickness you will be exempted from ASME impact test requirement.
Your thickness, in this example, is 0.75 of an inch, and is listed in curve D which
is up to 1 inch, you are exempted by this clause. Of course, you will be carry
out hydro-static test and ensure that the mentioned loadings are not a
design controlling factor in your considered pressure vessel.
UCS-66(a)
But for assessment, based on this clause, you need to know your
pressure vessel MDMT (Minimum Design Metal Temperature). Assume
that is -20 degree F, so you should now go to Fig. UCS-66 and locate
1.125 inch in the horizontal axis and draw a vertical line.
In a similar way, locate -20 degree F in the vertical axes and draw a
horizontal line. These two lines will cross each other.
If the cross point falls above the curve D (because your MOC is listed
in curve D) you are exempted. Otherwise you are not, but for the
current example, you are above the curve D so you are exempted
from impact testing.
UCS-66(b)
Let us explain this clause with the above example. Your MDMT from
above is -27 degree F, nominal thickness is 1.125 inch, normalized SA
516 Gr.70 listed in curve D and you are not exempted by UCS-66(a)
So you are here to continue your assessment to find a chance for
exemption. You have to refer to Fig UCS-66.1 and calculate the
following formula:
In the above example, your MDMT is -27 degree F, and in the UCS 66
table, the minimum permissible temperature without impact testing
designated -26 degree F. So with this clause you can reduce it to -36
degree F(-26 -8 = -34). Your MDMT is -27 degree F, so you are
exempted from impact testing with this clause.
UCS-68(c)
Let us change one variable in the above example. Let's assume you
need to have -45 degree F for your MDMT. Other variable are the
same; it means normalized SA 516 Gr.70 listed in curve D, thickness
1.125, so you can see you are not exempted by UCS-66(b);
It says that if post weld heat treatment is not a code requirement and
your P-No is 1 and you carry out post weld heat treatment, a 30
degree F bonus will be granted to you to reduce the minimum
permissible temperature in table UCS-66.
So, for our example, our service is not lethal and our P-No. is 1 and
thickness is 1.125 and it is less than 1.5 inch: therefore, post weld
heat treatment is not code requirement.
Now the worst case: in the above, assume you need to have -70
degree F for your MDMT; you can see with this new condition you
cannot be exempted even by UCS-68(c) and you have to carry out
impact testing.