A Study on Proper Location of Welding Defect in Three Point Bend Testing with MDPE Pipe

Abstract

Welding defects affect the performance of welded pipe joints. In this study, a three point bend test of welded steel and medium density polyethylene (MDPE) pipe joints with defects of various defect locations and defect materials was studied using the finite element method. The defect was assumed to be located at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock or 6 o'clock direction. The results showed that pipes failed more easily on the compression side due to stress or local buckling. The air defect was more dangerous than the steel defect if the defect was located in the compression side; otherwise, the defect material effect on the integrity of pipes was ignorable. It is argued that the integrity of pipes with defects in the compression side is weaker than that in other regions, and the defect should be located in the compression side or the 12 o'clock position in the three point bend test to maximize the effect of defect existence on the pipe structural integrity.