Bonding Integrity Study between Steel Pipeline and Composite Wraps Using Structural Health Monitoring Technique

Abstract

This paper presents results and analysis of pressure tests performed on carbon steel pipes with external defects repaired using composite materials. These results are part of a broader study on the structural health monitoring of the use of composite repairs to rehabilitate damaged carbon steel pipework. The surface of pipe that contains the arc-shaped defects was appropriately prepared prior to installation of the composite repair, and monitoring of the performance was achieved through strain gauges. Rectangular strain gauge rosettes were installed beneath and on the outer surface of the composite repair, and the output strain data were acquired using the real-time Labview software and a Compact Rio system. The hoop and axial strains measured by each of these gauges showed a consistency in the strain distribution through the composite repair and demonstrated that the load was transferred from the steel pipe into the composite material.