ENERGY Pipelines CRC

The Energy Pipelines CRC developed software to assist with the transfer of the research to practice. Software available to date includes:

• EPDECOM: this software provides information on the decompression of a pipeline associated with a full bore rupture and calculates the required toughness to arrest a propagating fracture. This information is required to assist with the design of a pipeline.                                   

• EPDECOM can be accessed by clicking here.

• PipeStrain: this software is designed to predict the outcome of a hydrostatic strength test based on the pipe material properties and elevation of each pipe. It calculates the elastic and plastic strains for each pipe, and sums these to calculate the pressure-volume plot for the pipeline. The results of these calculations can be displayed or saved in a number of ways.

  Each pipe’s behaviour is based on the material, geometry, and pressure data. A stress-strain curve is developed for each pipe by modifying a characteristic stress strain curve for the material by the best estimate of yield and tensile strength for each pipe. The geometry data contains the diameter and wall thickness. The pressure data combines the test pressure along with any head of pressure for pipes below the high point.

  The input data are the pipeline data file and characteristic stress strain curves for each material (typically this means for each different manufacturer) derived from material testing. The pipeline data file is a complete listing of the position, elevation, yield and tensile strengths, diameter, thickness, and material identity for each pipe.                                                   

• PipeStrain is available from the Australian Pipelines and Gas Assocation.