As codes and standards such as BS7910 and R6 are updated, it is important for the power generation and nuclear industries to follow the direction of structural research to encourage the appropriate development of such codes based upon up-to-date knowledge.
With this challenge in mind, the Institution’s upcoming seminar is well timed to discuss the new techniques and innovative research with the potential to reduce safety risks and manage costs. Taking place at the IMechE’s London headquarters, the Improving Safety with Advanced Fracture Mechanics seminar aims to do exactly as its name suggests. drawing on the latest findings from engineers in industry together with researchers and academics to provide attendees with best practice for the prediction and modelling of crack growth and initiation.
As one of the speakers taking part, we caught up with Isabel Hadley, Technology Fellow in the Integrity Management Group at TWI, to hear more about what engineers can expect from the seminar and her presentation covering BS 7910:2019.
Q: Please can you briefly explain your role and involvement with assets that require advanced fracture mechanics.
Isabel Hadley (IH): Over the last quarter-century, I have applied advanced fracture mechanics concepts to pressure vessels, pressure piping, pipelines, bridges, storage tanks, aerospace components, offshore structures and steel buildings, either as part of the design process, or to assess a structure already in service for overall safety or life extension. I’m also deeply involved in the development and maintenance of codes and standards to ensure that these assessments are carried out in a safe and reproducible manner.
Q: What is the number one challenge for those using or benefitting from technologies related to fracture mechanics in today’s current market?
IH: I would say quantifying the results of a fracture mechanics assessment. Whilst there is a vast amount of evidence that the methods we use are safe when applied appropriately, there are a lot of simplifications embedded in them, which mean that it’s difficult to quantify the safety margin or probability of failure associated with a particular assessment. There is an increasing wish to do so, using probabilistic fracture mechanics methods, but considerable challenges associated with doing so.
Q: What is the most exciting development in this field at the moment, either within your company or in the industry in general?
IH: Application of probabilistic techniques, and a better understanding of the role of welding residual stresses in driving failure are particular priorities for me at the moment. Ultimately, we can expect to see more quantitative assessments, in which engineering risk can be evaluated from an understanding of both the probability of failure and the consequences of failure.
Q: Where do you see the future of fracture mechanics assessments and predictions in the next 5 years?
IH: I’d expect to see the application of these techniques to non-traditional processes (for example additive manufacture) and materials (e.g. non-metallics), in tandem with advances in inspection technology.
Q: Please outline what key things that attendees can expect learn from your presentation.
IH: Why and how we are changing BS 7910 yet again, and what improvements the users can expect to see.
Q: What other topics are you looking forward to hearing about and discussing at the upcoming seminar?
IH: Whilst it might look like dodging the question, all of them: the themes of ageing assets, welding residual stresses, sour service and R6 developments are all particularly relevant to my work.
Q: Why do you feel it is important for all professionals to join this seminar?
IH: One-day seminars like this provide an excellent opportunity for professionals to hear about and discuss the latest advances, without too much disruption to the working week.
About the seminar
Improving Safety with Advanced Fracture Mechanics takes place on 15 May 2019 at One Birdcage Walk, London, SW1H 9JJ. Isabel Hadley will be joined by her peers at University of Cambridge, EDF Energy Nuclear Generation, University of Bristol, TWI, University of Manchester DNV GL and Wood Group.
With just two months to go, join this seminar in London to hear new methods and techniques that will enable your organisation to more accurately predict cracks and fractures, reduce costs and increase safety.
For full details and to register, visit www.imeche.org/fracturemechanics.