NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN

FABRICATED TEES A QUALITY

ASSURANCE DESIGN GUIDELINE

A.C. Seibi and R. J.

Lawrence, GPPA

Outline
Background
Approach
Quality Control
o Lab. Tests
o Finite Element Modeling

Results & Discussion

Conclusions
Recommendations

&

Background

Background

Background

Design????

Background
Do we have to strictly follow ISO
4427 ????

f 0.8

f 0.5

Approach
1. Search for field reports of failures.
2. Examine welding fabrication process.
3. Perform finite element analysis.
4. Carry out laboratory burst tests on elbows
and tees.
5. Compare results of 3. and 4.

Preliminary Findings
1. Very few field failures of
pipe fittings.
2. Overlapping beads at tee
joints
may
present
weakness in fittings.
3.

Soaking time for large

diameter pipes should be
revisited.

4. Bead not welded properly

QC: Lab
Results

Parrot
beak

Pipe
yielding

1st Joint

2nd
Joint

Long Term Test (Tees).

12.4 MPa for 100 hrs at 20 oC
5.4 MPa for 165 hrs at 80 oC

63 250

Size (mm)
560 - 900

2000

0.8

Pass

Pass

Pass

0.9

Pass

Pass

---

0.95

Pass

Pass

---

1
0.8

Fail
Pass

Fail
Pass

--Pass

0.9

Pass

Pass

---

0.95

Pass

Pass

---

Fail

Fail

---

Temperature Derating
(oC)
factor

20

80

QC: Finite Element

Modelling

Elbow

Tee

FEM Results

Press. vs.
displ

Stress
contours

Results
Pressur Pressure
Bend Thicknes

Experiment

FEA

al

Error

(mm) (deg.)

(mm)

(bar)

(bar)

(%)

317.5

45

12.7

21.8

23

5.39

225.6

90

15

33.8

37.5

9.87

167.1

90

15.1

46.6

49.2

5.28

161

45

14.9

54

60

10.00

225.8

45

13.8

34.95

34.9

0.14

Size

Angle

Difference 0.1
10%

Max. &not at the same

place. Why?
Displacement
contours

Stress
concentration

Deformed
shape

Failure occurs at
intersection due to
viscoelastic material
behavior

FEM Results
Longitudi
nal strain

Transvers
e strain

Practical Solution - UPI

UPI developed
a 2000
mm reducer
tee.
No worry about
pipe
derating.

FEM Results

It was recommended to create fillets

at the inner and outer sections of
the junction.

Conclusions
1. A derating factor of 0.8 for modern
PE100 like HE 3490 LS pipe tees
can be safely accepted.
2. Most failures in tees take place in
either 1st or 2nd weld. Need further
investigation.
3. FE
results
showed
a
good
agreement with burst pressures of
pipe bends.
4. FE results showed that the max.
stress is concentrated at the tee
junction and that potential failure

Recommendations
1. Need to understand reasons behind
tee failure along the welds.
2. Must develop a strain based failure
criterion for plastic pipes and
fittings.
3. Damage
mechanics
should
be
considered
in
FEM
to
better
understand
failure
modes
in
fabricated pipe fittings.
4. Should take a look at the soak time
in welding of large size fittings.