QIL-Engineering provides inspection and non-destructive testing of engineered components and structures. Our multi-disciplinary team of skilled engineers and technicians regularly perform in-situ assessments and non-destructive testing to identify the root causes of failures and assess the degradation mechanisms that impact the service life of components and structures.
Our work frequently begins by examining a component on-site, understanding its environment and service history, and selecting critical samples. We use our vast experience along with a wide variety of macroscopic and microscopic analysis and testing techniques to document the component, determine material properties, and identify the failure mode or suitability for continued service.
At QIL-Engineering, we specialize in non-destructive testing methods and techniques that can accurately locate, characterize, and size flaws in a variety of components and structures from coke drums and consumer products to pipelines and medical devices.
1. FIELD INSPECTION
Real-world problems can’t always be examined in a laboratory – that is why QIL-Engineering offers an array of field testing services in a number of industry sectors. Our engineers and technicians are widely experienced in conducting field tests and assessments in a variety of extreme and challenging site conditions around the world.
By using the advanced field testing methods, we are able to effectively determine the operating conditions of equipment and structures. We use this information to diagnose problems, evaluate operating performance, determine compliance, and recommend improvements.
Ares of testing include the following:
• Weld Testing and Evaluation
• Ultrasonic Flaw Detection
• Equipment Monitoring for Structural Stability
• Crane Testing
• Manufacturing and Processing Equipment Testing
2. PIPELINE INSPECTION
QIL-Engineering provides full-scale testing so as to achieve a better understanding of how pipelines respond to loading conditions that can lead to failure. By developing a well-designed test program, QIL-Engineering has the ability to validate numerical modeling efforts, thus improving the overall confidence in the analysis results. In addition, testing can provide engineers with insights on in-service behavior and threats to pipeline safety. Testing can also be a powerful tool to predict the future performance (establish reassessment intervals) of pipelines to meet integrity assessment requirements. QIL-Engineering provides various testing methods to help pipeline companies assess the condition of their pipeline systems in support of their integrity management program. The engineers and technicians at QIL-Engineering are experienced in employing testing methods that aid in predicting the future performance of pipeline materials with anomalies such as dents, wrinkle bends, and flaws in seam welds and vintage girth welds.
Some of the testing performed includes the following:
a) Burst Testing
Increasing pressure to a test sample until it fails in order to determine the ultimate pressure capacity of the pipe sample and/or the reduction in strength associated with given anomalies.
b) Pressure Cycle Fatigue Testing
Performing a fatigue test using cyclic pressure to introduce cumulative damage to simulate future service before performing a burst test or determining the fatigue life of a particular anomaly. This is a useful technique for forecasting how a pipeline might perform at some future date.
c) Bend Testing
Bending loads can be used to simulate pipeline conditions such as thermal buckling, land movement, and pipe/soil interaction. Simultaneous effects of internal pressure and axial tension or compression can also be applied.