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Functions of Pipe
Wear Pads
To protect surfaces and improve sliding properties, wear pads are used in industrial
applications from earlier days. Also known as slider pads, wear pads increase the wear
resistance capability and provide higher strength. In this article, we will explore more details
about Piping Wear Pads.
1. They eliminate the metal to metal damage. There are two modes of damage that
can happen:
Metal to metal wears damage by rubbing caused by thermal and pressure fluctuations.
Wear pads fit on the pipe outer surface on support locations and preserve the pipe
material.
Galvanic Corrosion due to dissimilar metals: Galvanic corrosion by the
electrochemical reaction can occur when dissimilar metals remain in contact with
each other. Pipe wear pads isolate dissimilar materials and discourage galvanic
corrosion.
2. Wear pads eliminate the possibility of crevice corrosion of the piping system. When
a pipe moves over the structure, the motion can pull off the pipe’s outer layer. So,
grooves are created for microbes to creep in, resulting in crevice corrosion by
bacteria. Wear pads for piping systems to stop these corrosive cells to form by
absorbing the surface impact themselves and safeguarding the pipe material.
3. As wear pads are directly fixed on the pipe, they displace along with the pipe
without leaving any scope for dust or grit accumulation on the pipe surface which in
turn avoids damages that may be caused by dust or grit particles.
4. Installing composite wear pads does not require welding on the pipe which in turn
keeps the pipe system fully intact. They are usually fixed to pipes by extremely strong
epoxy adhesives.
5. Composite wear pads absorb the frictional forces within then keeping the parent
pipe material safe.
6. Wear pads safeguard the piping systems from damaging vibration effects by
providing a damping effect and increasing stiffness. Pipe wear pads help the parent
pipe material from banging on the support structures.
So, in a nutshell, wear pads drive long-term performance by reducing corrosion, wear,
and preserving pipes.
For wear pads with line stops the minimum length of wear pad=structure (beam)
width+2*each line stop member dimension+2*one side gap for line stop+50 mm.
For wear pads without line stops the minimum length of wear pad= structure (beam)
width +maximum thermal movement at that support location+50 mm.
Metallic wear pads are used for strengthening thin-walled pipes to avoid local damage
in support locations.
If piping support is experiencing a relatively higher load then wear pads are suggested
to safeguard the pipe from support load reaction.
Wear pad supports are normally suggested for line stops with relatively high loads. In
many consultancy organization it is a standard engineering practice to use wear pads for
all pipe supports of pipes exceeding 24 inch inch size.
reducing corrosion.
damping vibration.
On the contrary, wear pads are used as pipe supports. They provide wear resistance
and high strengths to pipes in support locations.