Criticality: High Progress: Addressed, Not Adequately Score: 20 DOT Relevance: §192.501 – §192.517
Description of Key Area
Material testing falls under Subpart J (Test Requirements) of 49
CFR 192. Per the Code, “This subpart prescribes minimum strength-test
requirements for pipelines.”
Discussion of Criticality
Typical pipe specifications to not have specific steel chemistry
requirements and therefore it will be difficult to establish a standard (K)
factor when characteristics vary from mill to mill.
Discussion of Progress
SRNL advises that stress intensity factors (K) should be
identified and evaluated for materials to be used for hydrogen pipelines though
there is a diversity of opinion on this need particularly for lower strength
steels.
Recommendations
The ASME B31.12 hydrogen task group is currently discussing a
fracture mechanics approach for piping and pipeline design and fatigue analysis.
Standards for hydrogen pipelines should be established and incorporated by
reference into the federal code.
