Quality Assurance Device to Detect Flaws in Polyethylene Butt-Fused Joints; Design and Evaluation of Preproduction Unit. Final Report, October 1985-December 1987

摘要

Over 80% of the gas distribution pipe being installed in the United States is polyethylene pipe. Until now, there has been only limited technology available to the industry for conducting quality assurance inspection of the butt-fused joints during construction and repair. The available technology is difficult to apply to quality assurance inspections and the results are strongly operator dependent. In the interest of piping safety and maintenance, a commercial nondestructive testing and evaluation device is needed. Battelle Columbus Laboratories, through a contract with Gas Research Institute (GRI), developed a prototype inspection device based on ultrasonic scanning technology. T. D. Williamson, Inc. (TDW), was selected by GRI to 'field harden' and commercialize the device. After extensive re-design, modification and field testing, TDW has developed POLYSCANN, an effective and reliable inspection device for testing the quality of butt-fused joints in polyethylene pipe.