API 579 Part 5: Assessment of Local Metal Loss

• FFS: Fitness For service?

Inspection Construction code API 579

• Flow • Defect • Derogation for a period of

• Indication • Probability of failure time
• Abnormal service conditions • Derating
• Change in Service • Remaining Life
• Old installation • Permanant Repair
API 579 Part 5: Assessment of Local Metal Loss
Level 1 / Level 2 / Level 3
• Part 3: Brittle Fracture
• Part 4: General Meatl Loss
• Part 5: Local Metal Loss
• Part 6: Pitting Corrosion
• Part 7: Blisters and HIC/SOHIC Damage
• Part 8: Weld Misalignment and shell distortions
• Part 9: Crack Like Flaws
• Part 10: High Temperature Operation and Creep
• Part 11: Fire Damage
• Part 12: Dent, Gouge, and Dent Gouge Combinations
• Part 13: Laminations
• Part 14: Fatigue
API 579 Part 5: Assessment of Local Metal Loss

General Metal Loss Local Metal Loss

VAR =<10% VAR >10%

External / CUI: Visual

Uniform Surface
Inspection

Internal: Visual
No Pitting (Part 6)
Inspection / Remote

Pitting (Part 6)

Dent / Gauge (Part 12)

API 579 Part 5: Assessment of Local Metal
Loss
 ASSESSMENT 1st Condition
If the metal loss is less than the specified corrosion/erosion
allowance and adequate thickness is available for the future
corrosion allowance, no further action is required other than
to record the data; otherwise, an assessment is required.
 ASSESSMENT 2nd Condition
Check of creep range (table 4.1), if so Part 10 is applicable.
ASSESSMENT 3rd Condition
• Check if equipment is in cyclic service , if so Part 14 is
applicable.
• Screening method is described in chapter 14.4.2.1.a
ASSESSMENT 4th Condition
- Is supplimental Loads governing the thickness or
negligeable. If so advanced calculation is required and
level 1 cannot be uplied.
ASSESSMENT 5th Condition
Thickness Readings:
- Minimum Readings in a LTA is 15
- If COV >10%  Grid
- Check the thickness away from the
LTA
- Grid extremity shall be at a sound
metal
- Minimu 5 reading by plane
- Caracterize the LTA (s,c)
- Check the distance to nearest
Discontinuities
- Draw a rectangle 2s X 2c and
check of approximate LTA/Welds
Adjacent LTAs
Adjacent LTAs
Distance to nearest discontinuity
 API 579 Local Thinned Area Philosophy
• Caracterize the LTA, introducing the term of Critical Thickness Profile (CTP)
API 579 Local Thinned Area Philosophy
 API 579 Local Thinned Area Philosophy
• Caracterize the LTA, introducing the term of Reamining Thickness Ratio (Rt), Flow
Parameter (λ), and Folias Factor (Mt)
• Rt is by difinition the ration of the minimum measured tickness at the next
planned inspection by the governing thickness at the next planned inspection
(NB: most of the time Corrosion Rate is not the same)
• λ is a non dimentional ratio combining Diameter, thickness and flow length
These parapeter are used to calculate Folias Factor. ( A basis of RSF
calculation at level 1)
These parameters are required to carcterize the longitudinal extent of the LTA.
 API 579 Local Thinned Area Philosophy
• Caracterize the LTA, introducing the term of Remaining Strength Factor RSF
• In this Standard, the concept of a remaining strength factor is utilized to
define the acceptability of a component for continued service.
• Acceptance criteria can be established using traditional code formulas,
elastic stress analysis, limit load theory, or elastic-plastic analysis.
• For example, to evaluate local thin areas, the FFS assessment procedures
provide a means to compute a RSF (Basically two methods)
• The reduced maximum allowable working pressure, MAWP, for the
component can then be calculated from
Example 1
• A region of localized corrosion has been found on the inside surface of
a pressure vessel during a scheduled turnaround.
• The vessel was constructed to the ASME B&PV Code, Section VIII,
Division 1, 1989 Edition.
• Determine if the vessel is acceptable for continued operation using a
Level 1 Assessment
Example 1 Vessel Data
• Material = 516 70 1989SA Grade Year-
• Design Conditions = 300 @650psig F°
• Inside Diameter = 96 in
• Fabricated Thickness = 1.25 in
• Uniform Metal Loss (Internal) = 0.10in
• FCA = 0.125in
• Longitudinal Weld Joint Efficiency = 1
• Circumferential Weld Joint Efficiency = 1
• Supplemental Loads = 0 negligible
Example 1 Inspection Data
• The thickness data and the grid used for the inspection are shown
below. The distance from the region of local metal loss to the nearest
structural discontinuity is 60 in. Another region of local metal loss
with a smaller amount of metal loss is located 16 in from the region
shown below.
Example 1 CTP
Example 1 Adjacent LTAs
• The LTA being evaluated satisfies the spacing criteria in Part 4,
paragraph 4.3.3.3.f.3; therefore, the dimensions of the LTA do not
need to be adjusted
Example 1 Thickness to be used
• Determine the wall thickness to be used in the assessment using
Equation (5.3) or Equation (5.4), as applicable.

• In practic measure the thickness away of LTA, Caracterize the loss and
calculate a corrosion rate based on previous data or if not available
LCR. Then calculate the FCA based on the next planned interval.
Example 1 Minimum Measured Thickness

• From longitudinal CTP, the longitudinal extent of the metal loss is the
length between the two end points where the metal loss profile
crosses
Example 1 Rt AND λ

Be carefull Diameter shall be corrected by the Metal loss

Example 1 Check the limiting flaw size
criteria
Example 1 – Evaluate the longitudinal extent
of the flaw

At this stage the Longitudinal Extent is acceptable. But for

calculation reason we will proceed with the calculation of
RSF
Example 1 – Evaluate circumferential extent
of the flaw
Example 2
Example 2
Example 2
Example 2
Example 2
Example 2
Example 2
Example 2
Example 2
Example 2 circumferential Extent

If this failed, the supplemental load procedure in paragraph 5.4.3.4 can be used for a
more detailed analysis
• Determine the CTP
• Check the limiting flaw size criteria
• Calculate MAWP
• Check Longitudinal Extent
• Check Circumferential Extent