Dr Garfield Denton

Peng Zhang

Research Abstract:

  Crack propagation is a problem in pipelines conveying gas or liquids with high vapour pressures. Fractures can propagate in either the fully brittle or fully ductile modes for long distances, and in theory, could propagate almost indefinitely.

If the propagation of a long-running ductile or brittle fracture cannot be prevented through the specification of material toughness then measures such as the fitting of crack arrestors along the pipeline have to be adopted. Many of the operating pipelines in the US are fitted with crack arrestors.

This project is therefore aimed at understanding the effects of release of CO2 in terms of fracture propagation and specifying the material properties to ensure that the fractures are arrested. This project is divided into two sub-projects; one which concentrates on fracture propagation in the brittle mode due to low temperature effects, and one which concentrates on fracture arrest of ductile fractures.