MWM Array Bending Stress and Crack Detection In-Line Inspection Module

In-line inspection (ILI) is a cornerstone for pipeline integrity. Advances to ILI tools are essential to maintaining pipeline safety. Gaps exist for the detection of circumferential cracking (at and away from welds and dents) and bending stresses. Few technologies exist that can make reputable claims for stress measurement that are non-destructive, reliable, and appropriate for integration onto an ILI tool.One promising method for stress measurement uses the relationship between the magnetic permeability of steel and applied stresses. This relationship is complex and directional in nature, which makes it difficult to measure using sensors that can be mounted to an ILI tool.JENTEK’s MWM Array sensors can solve both the cracking problem (circumferential and axial) and the bending stress problem. MWM Arrays have a proven record for crack detection and JENTEK has made significant progress toward integrating this capability onto an ILI tool. MWM Arrays also provide absolute property measurements, making them ideal for measuring the directional magnetic permeability that is required to take advantage of the relationship between magnetic permeability and stress. While general-purpose, local stress estimation remains the subject of basic research, bending stresses can be estimated by making use of apriori knowledge of the stress pattern.