Entries by Structural Integrity

News and Views, Volume 55 | Materials Lab Featured Damage Mechanism

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CREEP FATIGUE IN STEAM COOLED BOILER AND HRSG TUBES By:  Wendy Weiss Creep-fatigue is caused by the accumulation of damage through synergistic interaction of cyclic stress and elevated operating temperature. The creep and fatigue components of the damage usually occur at different periods in the thermal cycle to result in a failure with characteristics of […]

News and Views, Volume 55 | Replacement of Large Equipment in Nuclear Power Plants

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By:  Julio Garcia, PhD, PE, Natalie Doulgerakis, PE, SE, Dan Parker, PE and Lachezar Handzhiyski With many U.S. nuclear plants having extended operation well beyond their original licensed life, it is necessary to replace certain critical process components (e.g., large pumps, turbine rotors, heat exchangers). In many cases, equipment manufacturers are asked to provide larger, […]

News and Views, Volume 54 | Analysis of Ultrasonic Pipe Cleaning and Viability for Use in Nuclear Power Plants

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By:  Ashkan Nejad, Ph.D. Ultrasonic cleaning is a non-destructive, low-cost technological method that uses high-frequency waves to remove contaminants from materials. The process utilizes specialized ultrasonic devices equipped with transducers that emit longitudinal and flexural waves at frequencies ranging from 15 kHz to 25 kHz to dislodge contaminants and carry them away with a cleaning […]

News and Views, Volume 54 | Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant – BioShield Evaluation

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By:  Livia Costa-Mello, Shari Day, and Dan Denis Background Many U.S. nuclear plants are completing license renewal (LR) activities to extend their operating life.  The initial LR application extends operating licenses from 40 to 60 years; the subsequent renewal (SLR) further extends this from 60 to 80 years.  As part of the LR/SLR application process, […]

News and Views, Volume 55 | UPDATE: Encoded Phased Array Ultrasonic Examination Services for Cast Austenitic Stainless Steel (CASS) Piping Welds in Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Coolant Systems

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By:  John Hayden and Jason Van Velsor Our initial article on this topic in News & Views, Volume 531 describes the challenges imposed by cast austenitic stainless steel (CASS) materials and the development of our CASS UT Examination solution. At the time of the prior article’s publication, SI was also conducting examinations of numerous CASS […]

News and Views, Volume 54 | Structural Integrity Supports Pipeline Research Council International’s Hard Spot Project

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By Scott Riccardella and Steven Osgood Structural Integrity is pleased to be working with PRCI to improve ILI performance, provide industry insight regarding prioritizing hard spots, and determine the optimal repair methodologies. SI’s Pipeline Integrity Compliance Solutions (PICS) group has been implementing a highly strategic project from the Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) focused on […]

Structural Integrity Associates Acquired by MidOcean Partners

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SAN JOSE, CA – August 15, 2024 – SI Solutions today announced their acquisition by MidOcean Partners.  The transaction includes SI Solutions and all its affiliate companies: Structural Integrity Associates, C2C Technical Services, and SC Solutions.  The full press release with additional details follows below. NEW YORK – August 15, 2024 – MidOcean Partners (“MidOcean”), […]

News and Views, Volume 54 | Combustion Turbine Compressor Hygiene, Part 2

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COMPONENT ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS By John Molloy Structural Integrity (SI) has decades of experience dealing with compressor degradation’s short-term and long-term effects, forced outages, and unforeseen costs regarding Combustion Turbine (CT) compressor hygiene. The inlet package and compressor condition can strongly influence unit performance, efficiency, reliability, risk, and maintenance costs.  Controlling what enters the inlet […]

News and Views, Volume 54 | Leaks in High Energy Piping Tees

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By Kane Riggenbach and Eric Jones Background The power generation industry has seen an increasing trend of failures and damage detected in high energy piping tee fittings and the associated girth welds in systems made from grade 91 material (and grades 22 and 92). Failures and evidence of significant creep damage have been detected in […]