Review of materials property data for nondestructive characterization of pipeline materials

The oil and gas industry relies on an aging infrastructure of pipeline for transportation and distribution of product; therefore, it is important to assess the condition of the pipeline, using accurate material and mechanical properties, to ensure failures are minimized. Nondestructive evaluation techniques are currently being used to assess pipeline, but necessary mechanical properties (yield strength, tensile strength, fracture toughness, and ductile-to-brittle transition temperature) are not yet able to be adequately characterized by these methods. There are many issues to consider when addressing this problem. There is variability within the manufacturing processes due to simple inaccuracies in the processes themselves, and changes in practices over the years. There is also variability in the destructive techniques used for assessment of mechanical properties before the pipe is put into service. Current focus in the industry tends to be on pipe installed in the 1950’s and 1960’s because about half of the pipe currently in service was installed during these time periods, but it is equally important to verify the properties of modern pipe Therefore, nondestructive methods of measurement are commonly used for determining defect severity (e.g. magnetic flux leakage and ultrasonic) are being explored to determine what other properties can be measured to relate to mechanical properties. For future activities, it is advised to compare the accuracies of both destructive and nondestructive methods of determining properties, should some method of nondestructive evaluation become a more viable technique for mechanical property measurements, either directly or indirectly. The relationships between what can be measured (chemical content, grain size, microstructure, hardness, coercivity, permeability, etc) and the mechanical properties desired listed previously, show that there is a strong relationship between hardness and yield strength. This is already well known in the industry. Other important relationships to evaluate further include the percent content of various alloying elements, most notably including manganese and carbon in relation to the yield strength, fracture toughness, and grain size. Magnetic properties such as permeability and coercivity are also important, as these showed stronger correlations within research, but are not available in the available sample data set. In this thesis, research has been performed to establish the current state of the art, highlighting some of the areas of difficulties in terms of obtaining consistent data sets. Linear correlations were performed on the sample data available to observe the results for yield strength and fracture toughness determination. Similar characteristics were also compared to historical studies and generally the conclusions were well reflected by both data sets. For future study, it would be of use to obtain saturation, permeability, coercivity, and remanence measurements on the sample data to see if the correlations are similar to what was developed shown in historical studies. Additionally, creating a chart of the various ultrasound measurements such as velocity, attenuation, and backscatter grain noise could open up more insight as to how effective ultrasonic measurements are in determining the desired mechanical properties. From this information, the potential for application of nondestructive methods of evaluation prove to be beneficial in supporting the pre-existing destructive methods, and eventually developing for field application

Nondestructive characterization of pipeline materials

There is a growing need to quantitatively and nondestructively evaluate the strength and toughness properties of pipeline steels, particularly in aging pipeline infrastructure. These strength and toughness properties, namely yield strength, tensile strength, transition temperature, and toughness, are essential for determining the safe operating pressure of the pipelines. For some older pipelines crucial information can be unknown, which makes determining the pressure rating difficult. Current inspection techniques address some of these issues, but they are not comprehensive. This paper will briefly discuss current inspection techniques and relevant literature for relating nondestructive measurements to key strength and toughness properties. A project is in progress to provide new in-trench tools that will give strength properties without the need for sample removal and destructive testing. Preliminary experimental ultrasonic methods and measurements will be presented, including velocity, attenuation, and backscatter measurements

Ultrasonic and magnetic Barkhausen emission measurements for characterization of pipeline steels

To ensure that the aging pipeline infrastructure in the USA can be safely operated, the mechanical properties of the pipe materials must be verified. It is hypothesized that characterization of the pipeline steels and their microstructures through nondestructive methods will allow for the estimation of the mechanical properties of interest, namely yield strength, tensile strength, toughness, and ductile-to-brittle transition temperature. This work will discuss how material properties, such as microstructure and chemical composition, affect the mechanical properties as well as strategies for measuring the material properties nondestructively using magnetic Barkhausen emission and ultrasonic velocity and attenuation measurements. Preliminary results on a limited sample set will be shown and challenges encountered will be discussed

Naive and memory human B cells have distinct requirements for STAT3 activation to differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells

Long-lived antibody memory is mediated by the combined effects of long-lived plasma cells (PCs) and memory B cells generated in response to T cell–dependent antigens (Ags). IL-10 and IL-21 can activate multiple signaling pathways, including STAT1, STAT3, and STAT5; ERK; PI3K/Akt, and potently promote human B cell differentiation. We previously showed that loss-of-function mutations in STAT3, but not STAT1, abrogate IL-10– and IL-21–mediated differentiation of human naive B cells into plasmablasts. We report here that, in contrast to naive B cells, STAT3-deficient memory B cells responded to these STAT3-activating cytokines, differentiating into plasmablasts and secreting high levels of IgM, IgG, and IgA, as well as Ag-specific IgG. This was associated with the induction of the molecular machinery necessary for PC formation. Mutations in IL21R, however, abolished IL-21–induced responses of both naive and memory human B cells and compromised memory B cell formation in vivo. These findings reveal a key role for IL-21R/STAT3 signaling in regulating human B cell function. Furthermore, our results indicate that the threshold of STAT3 activation required for differentiation is lower in memory compared with naive B cells, thereby identifying an intrinsic difference in the mechanism underlying differentiation of naive versus memory B cells.This work was funded by project and program grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia (to E.K. Deenick, C.S. Ma, D.A. Fulcher, M.C. Cook, and S.G. Tangye) and the Rockefeller University Center for 541 Clinical and Translational science (5UL1RR024143 to J.L. Casanova). C.S. Ma is a recipient of a Career Development Fellowship, L.J. Berglund is a recipient of a Medical Postgraduate Scholarship, and S.G. Tangye is a recipient of a Principal Research Fellowship from the NHMRC of Australia. L. Moens is the recipient of a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO), Belgium

A narrative review of the potential pharmacological influence and safety of ibuprofen on coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), ACE2, and the immune system: a dichotomy of expectation and reality

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently the most acute healthcare challenge in the world. Despite growing knowledge of the nature of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), treatment options are still poorly defined. The safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), specifically ibuprofen, has been openly questioned without any supporting evidence or clarity over dose, duration, or temporality of administration. This has been further conflicted by the initiation of studies to assess the efficacy of ibuprofen in improving outcomes in severe COVID-19 patients. To clarify the scientific reality, a literature search was conducted alongside considerations of the pharmacological properties of ibuprofen in order to construct this narrative review. The literature suggests that double-blind, placebo-controlled study results must be reported and carefully analysed for safety and efficacy in patients with COVID-19 before any recommendations can be made regarding the use of ibuprofen in such patients. Limited studies have suggested: (i) no direct interactions between ibuprofen and SARS-CoV-2 and (ii) there is no evidence to suggest ibuprofen affects the regulation of angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2 (ACE2), the receptor for COVID-19, in human studies. Furthermore, in vitro studies suggest ibuprofen may facilitate cleavage of ACE2 from the membrane, preventing membrane-dependent viral entry into the cell, the clinical significance of which is uncertain. Additionally, in vitro evidence suggests that inhibition of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-kB) by ibuprofen may have a role in reducing excess inflammation or cytokine release in COVID-19 patients. Finally, there is no evidence that ibuprofen will aggravate or increase the chance of infection of COVID-19

Review of materials property data for nondestructive characterization of pipeline materials

The oil and gas industry relies on an aging infrastructure of pipeline for transportation and distribution of product; therefore, it is important to assess the condition of the pipeline, using accurate material and mechanical properties, to ensure failures are minimized. Nondestructive evaluation techniques are currently being used to assess pipeline, but necessary mechanical properties (yield strength, tensile strength, fracture toughness, and ductile-to-brittle transition temperature) are not yet able to be adequately characterized by these methods. There are many issues to consider when addressing this problem. There is variability within the manufacturing processes due to simple inaccuracies in the processes themselves, and changes in practices over the years. There is also variability in the destructive techniques used for assessment of mechanical properties before the pipe is put into service. Current focus in the industry tends to be on pipe installed in the 1950’s and 1960’s because about half of the pipe currently in service was installed during these time periods, but it is equally important to verify the properties of modern pipe Therefore, nondestructive methods of measurement are commonly used for determining defect severity (e.g. magnetic flux leakage and ultrasonic) are being explored to determine what other properties can be measured to relate to mechanical properties. For future activities, it is advised to compare the accuracies of both destructive and nondestructive methods of determining properties, should some method of nondestructive evaluation become a more viable technique for mechanical property measurements, either directly or indirectly. The relationships between what can be measured (chemical content, grain size, microstructure, hardness, coercivity, permeability, etc) and the mechanical properties desired listed previously, show that there is a strong relationship between hardness and yield strength. This is already well known in the industry. Other important relationships to evaluate further include the percent content of various alloying elements, most notably including manganese and carbon in relation to the yield strength, fracture toughness, and grain size. Magnetic properties such as permeability and coercivity are also important, as these showed stronger correlations within research, but are not available in the available sample data set. In this thesis, research has been performed to establish the current state of the art, highlighting some of the areas of difficulties in terms of obtaining consistent data sets. Linear correlations were performed on the sample data available to observe the results for yield strength and fracture toughness determination. Similar characteristics were also compared to historical studies and generally the conclusions were well reflected by both data sets. For future study, it would be of use to obtain saturation, permeability, coercivity, and remanence measurements on the sample data to see if the correlations are similar to what was developed shown in historical studies. Additionally, creating a chart of the various ultrasound measurements such as velocity, attenuation, and backscatter grain noise could open up more insight as to how effective ultrasonic measurements are in determining the desired mechanical properties. From this information, the potential for application of nondestructive methods of evaluation prove to be beneficial in supporting the pre-existing destructive methods, and eventually developing for field application.</p

Material property relationships for pipeline steels and the potential for application of NDE

The oil and gas industry in the USA has an extensive infrastructure of pipelines, 70% of which were installed prior to 1980, and almost half were installed during the 1950s and 1960s. Ideally the mechanical properties (i.e. yield strength, tensile strength, transition temperature, and fracture toughness) of a steel pipe must be known in order to respond to detected defects in an appropriate manner. Neither current in-ditch methods nor the ILI inspection data have yet determined and map the desired mechanical properties with adequate confidence. In the quest to obtain the mechanical properties of a steel pipe using a nondestructive method, it is important to understand that there are many inter-related variables. This paper reports a literature review and an analysis of a sample set of data. There is promise for correlating the results of NDE measurement modalities to the information required to develop relationships between those measurements and the mechanical measurements desired for pipelines to ensure proper response to defects which are of significant threat

Nondestructive characterization of pipeline materials

There is a growing need to quantitatively and nondestructively evaluate the strength and toughness properties of pipeline steels, particularly in aging pipeline infrastructure. These strength and toughness properties, namely yield strength, tensile strength, transition temperature, and toughness, are essential for determining the safe operating pressure of the pipelines. For some older pipelines crucial information can be unknown, which makes determining the pressure rating difficult. Current inspection techniques address some of these issues, but they are not comprehensive. This paper will briefly discuss current inspection techniques and relevant literature for relating nondestructive measurements to key strength and toughness properties. A project is in progress to provide new in-trench tools that will give strength properties without the need for sample removal and destructive testing. Preliminary experimental ultrasonic methods and measurements will be presented, including velocity, attenuation, and ..

Material property relationships for pipeline steels and the potential for application of NDE

The oil and gas industry in the USA has an extensive infrastructure of pipelines, 70% of which were installed prior to 1980, and almost half were installed during the 1950s and 1960s. Ideally the mechanical properties (i.e. yield strength, tensile strength, transition temperature, and fracture toughness) of a steel pipe must be known in order to respond to detected defects in an appropriate manner. Neither current in-ditch methods nor the ILI inspection data have yet determined and map the desired mechanical properties with adequate confidence. In the quest to obtain the mechanical properties of a steel pipe using a nondestructive method, it is important to understand that there are many inter-related variables. This paper reports a literature review and an analysis of a sample set of data. There is promise for correlating the results of NDE measurement modalities to the information required to develop relationships between those measurements and the mechanical measurements desired for pipelines to ensure proper response to defects which are of significant threat.This proceeding may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. This proceeding appeared in Smart, Lucinda, and Leonard J. Bond. "Material property relationships for pipeline steels and the potential for application of NDE." In AIP Conference Proceedings 1706, no. 1 (2016): 160003. DOI: 10.1063/1.4940620. Posted with permission.</p