Development of the new Australian girth weld defect acceptance standards

Abstract

The Australian pipeline code, in common with other areas of welded fabrication, has undertaken development of girth weld defect acceptance standards based on structural significance of the imperfection in addition to the traditional workmanship standards. The "fitness for purpose" approach adopted for the Australian pipeline code is related to that originating from the European pipeline Research Group (EPRF) which has compiled an extensive database of failure conditions of both real and artificial defects.

The present paper reviews the relationship of EPRG guidelines and Standards Australia ME38 Committee, Welding Working Group draft revisions to Australian Standard AS2885,1987 hearinafter referred to as the draft AS2885.2. Attention is also drawn to the mechanical property requirements necessary to ensure girth weld integrity as well as the proposed research sponsored by the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) to extend the pipe wall thickness range for the Australian pipeline industry.