Stijn Hertelé

Are panoramic images reliable in planning sinus augmentation procedures

OBJECTIVE The inherent deformation and two-dimensional nature of panoramic radiographs jeopardise their interpretation and quantitative measurements. This study aims to estimate the degree of underestimation of available mesio-distal bone in the premolar area (comparing panoramic radiographs with multi-slice/cone-beam computer tomography [CT]) to determine the prevalence, width, length and position of the bony canal [artery] in the lateral sinus wall and to explore the prevalence, width and length of another (newly detected) bony canal at the palatal aspect of the upper canine. MATERIAL AND METHODS The distance between the distal side of the canine/first premolar and the mesial side of the first molar or the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus was measured on panoramic radiographs and corresponding multi-slice/cone-beam CT images (65 patients). Measurements were made at apical, mid-radicular and crestal regions, parallel to the occlusal plane. The presence and dimensions of the two above-mentioned intra-osseous canals were verified on multi-slice CT scans (144 patients) using reformatted cross-sectional images and/or axial slices. RESULTS For all 65 patients, panoramic radiographs underscored the mesio-distal distance of available bone in the upper premolar region (mean 2.9 mm, range 0.1-7.5 mm). An intra-osseous canal in the lateral maxillary sinus wall was clearly visible in 49.5% of the cases (mean diameter 1.4 mm). In the canine region, a bony canal was obvious in 32.9% of the cases, with a mean diameter of 1.23 mm. For both canals, there was no correlation between diameter and patients age. CONCLUSIONS Based on the present data, cone-beam CT imaging can be recommended for visualising anatomical structures during planning of sinus augmentation procedures.

Investigation of strain measurements in (curved) wide plate specimens using digital image correlation and finite element analysis

Some pipelines face global plastic straining due to the nature of their installation process or harsh environmental conditions during operation. The ability of the girth welds to withstand these plastic strains is often evaluated on the basis of wide plate tests. Key for the validity of these tests is a representative measurement of remote strain, mostly obtained by linear variable differential transformers and/or strain gauges. The outcome of the remote strain measurement depends on the specimen geometry and the position of these sensors. In an attempt to investigate a specific geometric design of wide plate specimens and to find appropriate remote strain sensor positions, the authors have performed a series of tension tests on medium-sized wide plate specimens, supported by digital image correlation strain measurements. In addition, finite element simulations have been performed to evaluate whether the experimental observations can be extrapolated to a wider range of conditions. The results indicate that the strain distribution is mostly influenced by the weld strength mismatch, which governs the lateral restraint. For all experiments and simulations, nevertheless, the strain field was highly uniform in an identified zone, resulting in simple guidelines regarding specimen geometry and sensor positioning.

Parametric finite element model for large scale tension tests on flawed pipeline girth welds

The structural response of a pipe with a flawed girth weld, subjected to global plastic deformation is influenced by a large number of geometrical and material properties. Finite element models that aim to simulate this need to include all relevant influence factors, which causes high challenges in the creation of such models. In search for a high degree of flexibility, automation and ease of use, the authors have developed a parametric script that creates geometries for two common pipeline girth weld tension tests: the curved wide plate test and the full scale pressurized pipe tension test. The developed model allows to modify pipe geometry, test specimen geometry, flaw position (weld metal centre or heat-affected zone), flaw size, weld misalignment, pipe thickness variations, weld fusion line profile, and weld cap profile. The desired geometry is obtained by a coordinate transformation scheme that starts from a flat plate with a simplified weld geometry. A deliberate partitioning strategy is applied to obtain flexibility in the flaw location and full independence between a fine flaw mesh and a coarse body mesh. This article describes the approach, structure and governing equations of the model. An example geometry is discussed to illustrate the various possibilities. The proposed model provides inspiration for all who seek to develop parametric finite element models with a similar flexibility and ease of use.

Pressure Correction Factor for Strain Capacity Predictions Based on Curved Wide Plate Testing

Strain-based girth weld defect assessment procedures are essentially based on large scale testing. Ever since the 1980s curved wide plate testing has been widely applied to determine the tensile strain capacity of flawed girth welds. However, the effect of internal pressure is not captured in curved wide plate testing. Accordingly, unconservative predictions of strain capacity occur when straightforwardly transferred to pressurized pipes. To address this anomaly, this paper presents results of finite element simulations incorporating ductile crack growth. Simulations on homogeneous and girth welded specimens indicate that a correction factor of 0.5 allows to conservatively predict the strain capacity of a pressurized pipe through wide plate testing under the considered conditions.

Resonant Bending Fatigue Test Setup for Pipes With Optical Displacement Measuring System

Pipes and tubular members are used in offshore applications as structural elements, such as columns or in transport pipelines, risers, etc. When subjected to dynamic loads, weld defects or geometrical stress raisers can initiate fatigue cracks, causing the columns or pipelines to fail prematurely. In order to investigate the fatigue behavior of pipe joints, a resonant bending fatigue setup was designed, suitable for testing pipes within a diameter range from 6 in. to 20 in. In this setup, the pipe, filled with water, is subjected to a dynamic excitation force with a frequency close to the natural frequency of the filled pipe. The force is applied using a unique drive unit with excentric masses. The pipe is supported in the nodes of its natural wave-form, so that no dynamic forces are transmitted to the setup. The deformation of the pipe is measured at discrete locations using an optical 3D dynamic measuring system. Through-thickness fatigue cracks can be detected by pressurizing the water in the pipe and applying a pressure gauge. In this paper, some unique aspects of the design of the resonant bending fatigue setup are discussed by presenting the results of a semianalytical model used for calculating the deformation and bending stress in the excitated pipe and by comparing these results to the deformation measurements made by the dynamic measuring system. The working principles of the setup are illustrated by showing the preliminary test results for a 12 in. diameter X65 steel pipe with a wall thickness of 12.7 mm. It is demonstrated that the model predicts the behavior of the pipe in the setup very accurately.

Microstructural evolution study of severely deformed commercial aluminium by transmission Kikuchi diffraction

Commercially pure aluminium was selected as a model fcc material for a detailed investigation of the microstructural and textural evolution during processing by high pressure torsion (HPT). Vickers hardness measurements reveal that: the hardness is the lowest where the lowest strain is imposed and increases with increasing strain until saturation hardness is obtained. The microstructural evolution is investigated by means of electron backscattered diffraction and transmission Kikuchi diffraction. During HPT a grain fragmentation process takes place: within the original grains dislocations aggregate, resulting in the creation of very fine grains separated first by low and later by high angle grain boundaries. At a strain level of a simple shear texture of fcc structure was observed. This paper is part of a Themed Issue on Aluminium-based materials: processing, microstructure, properties, and recycling.

Evaluation and Comparison of Double Clip Gauge Method and Delta 5 Method for CTOD Measurement in SE(T) Specimens

The experimental evaluation of the fracture toughness of line pipe steels and girth welds is increasingly performed through single edge notched tensile—SE(T)—testing. The notch constraint in these specimens closely matches that in pipes. This paper focused on the measurement of the crack tip opening displacement (CTOD). The double clip gauge method and the GKSS δ5 method were compared based on experimental tests on both welded and nonwelded specimens. A good correspondence between both techniques was observed. The δ5 method tended to result in a slightly lower estimation of crack driving force, which was explained by the difference between both CTOD definitions. Both techniques were concluded to be equivalent for the evaluation of CTOD in SE(T) specimens.

Determination of CTOD Resistance Curves in SENT Specimens With a Tilted Notch

The Single Edge Notched Tension (SENT) specimen is a common tool for the determination of tearing resistance in pipeline steels and welds. However, it assumes pure mode I crack tip loading, which is unrepresentative for the evaluation of spiral seam weld flaws. To this purpose, the authors have performed SENT tests using specimens with a tilted notch. This paper evaluates experimental techniques to obtain the tearing resistance of such specimens. Mixed-mode crack opening displacement and ductile tearing are successfully measured using digital image correlation and direct current potential drop, respectively. The latter technique involves a calibration on the basis of a thermo-electric finite element model. Tearing resistance tends to increase with increasing notch tilt angle. Based on the limited number of tests performed, tilted notch SENT testing appears to be a promising tool for the assessment of spiral seam weld flaws.

Curved wide plate testing with advanced instrumentation and interpretation

Curved wide plate testing is a valuable experimental tool to determine the strain capacity of flawed pipeline girth welds under tension. However, its design, test procedure and analysis are not standardized to date. In an effort to contribute to these three aspects, the authors have executed medium scale (curved) wide plate tests with full field strain measurements and unloading compliance crack extension measurements. This paper discusses specifications, possibilities and limitations of both features and provides representative results. Full field strain measurements and unloading compliance analysis support the validation of a finite element model for curved wide plate testing, and confirm the ability to obtain uniform strain fields in the pipe sections. It is expected that these results may contribute to a future standardization of the curved wide plate test.Copyright

Determination of full range stress-strain behavior of pipeline steels using tensile characteristics

It is standard practice to approximate the post-yield behavior of pipeline steels by means of the Ramberg-Osgood equation. However, the Ramberg-Osgood equation is often unable to accurately describe the stress-strain behavior of contemporary pipeline steels with a high Y/T ratio. This is due to the occurrence of two distinct, independent stages of strain hardening. To address this problem, the authors recently developed a new ‘UGent’ stress-strain model which provides a better description of those steels. This paper elaborates a methodology to estimate suited parameter values for the UGent model, starting from a set of tensile characteristics. Using the proposed methodology, good approximations have been obtained for a preliminary series of eight investigated stress-strain curves. Next to all common tensile characteristics, the 1% proof stress is needed. The authors therefore encourage the future acquisition of this stress level during tensile tests. Currently, the authors perform a further in-depth validation which will be reported in the near future.Copyright