Transneft Research Institute Develops Software to Predict Pipeline Defects
The new program is designed to identify potential defects during the design stage, before pipelines are put into operation.
Engineers at Transneft Research Institute (NII Transneft LLC) have developed and patented software that predicts where defects may develop in pipelines over the course of their operational life.
The software addresses one of the industry's persistent engineering challenges. During operation, pipelines are continuously exposed to fluctuations in temperature and pressure that can cause wrinkles and other deformation features, reducing the structural integrity of the pipe.
The new program makes it possible to evaluate these risks during the design phase without relying on costly physical testing. It creates a virtual model of a pipeline section and subjects it to different loading conditions. Using numerical simulations, the software identifies where defects are most likely to originate and under what operating conditions. The results can be visualized as distribution graphs, stress fields within the pipeline wall, and displacement maps showing how points on the pipeline surface move under load.
The developers say the new software will help improve both the reliability and the service life of pipeline systems.
