MCET Technologies News & Research

Pressure vessels are crucial components in a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, chemical processing, and power generation. These vessels are designed to store, transport, or process pressurized fluids, gases, or other substances. As pressure vessels are subject to high stress and fatigue loads, they require regular inspection and monitoring to ensure their structural integrity and prevent catastrophic failure. In this blog, we will discuss structural health monitoring (SHM) in pressure vessels, including its benefits, techniques, and challenges.

Pressure vessels are crucial components in a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, chemical processing, and power generation. These vessels are designed to store, transport, or process pressurized fluids, gases, or other substances. As pressure vessels are subject to high stress and fatigue loads, they require regular inspection and monitoring to ensure their structural integrity and prevent catastrophic failure. In this blog, we will discuss structural health monitoring (SHM) in pressure vessels, including its benefits, techniques, and challenges.

MCET Technologies has completed Phase I of the U.S. DOT’s highly competitive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program awards contracts to domestic small businesses to pursue research on and develop innovative solutions to our nation’s transportation challenges.

As we prepare for our next steps regarding exciting opportunities and challenges in grants, testing opportunities, and company growth 2023, MCET would like to thank all those who helped us in 2022.  

Metal structural pipeline components and other infrastructure deteriorate over their service life due to static and cyclic loading, exposure to corrosive chemicals, and harsh environments. The result is progressive weakening of the structural
elements due to corrosion, section loss and cracking.  All structures exposed to cyclic loading are susceptible to deterioration, and incidents at oil and gas pipelines in the United States resulted in 339.72 million U.S. dollars of reported total costs in 2020.

The use of non‐metallic composite pipes is increasing due to light weight and anti‐corrosion/durability related advantages.  However, NDE testing methods for non-metallics can be limited, and like metallic structures, most NDE monitoring methods involve physical inspections- which can be labor-intensive and dangerous.  Specific failure modes in non-metallic pipelines to be monitored in these applications are as follows:

Pipeline distribution for Oil & Gas is considered to be a “performance critical” market, component failures can be catastrophic to the environment, hazardous to human health, and costly due to both repair and financial losses. In the O&G industry during 2020 alone, there were 578 reported incidents in pipeline distribution that resulted in 43 injuries and 15 fatalities, as well as a total cost of $339.7M.

Metal, concrete, and composite structures exposed to cyclic loading, corrosion, and abuse, are susceptible to fatigue cracking, strain, and ultimately, structural failure. As a result, monitoring this critical infrastructure is of vital importance before the damage reaches a critical stage and the structure fails.

Attend Dr. Sagar M. Doshi's presentation on The Effect of Environmental Factors on the Properties...