Advanced orbital pipe welding

Since the introduction of automatic orbital welding in pipeline application in 1961, significant improvements have been obtained in orbital pipe welding systems. Requirement of more productive welding systems for pipeline application forces manufacturers to innovate new advanced systems and welding processes for orbital welding method. Various methods have been used to make welding process adaptive, such as visual sensing, passive visual sensing, real-time intelligent control, scan welding technique, multi laser vision sensor, thermal scanning, adaptive image processing, neural network model, machine vision, and optical sensing. Numerous studies are reviewed and discussed in this Master’s thesis and based on a wide range of experiments which already have been accomplished by different researches the vision sensor are reported to be the best choice for adaptive orbital pipe welding system. Also, in this study the most welding processes as well as the most pipe variations welded by orbital welding systems mainly for oil and gas pipeline applications are explained. The welding results show that Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and its variants like Surface Tension Transfer (STT) and modified short circuit are the most preferred processes in the welding of root pass and can be replaced to the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) in many applications. Furthermore, dual-tandem gas metal arc welding technique is currently considered the most efficient method in the welding of fill pass. Orbital GTAW process mostly is applied for applications ranging from single run welding of thin walled stainless tubes to multi run welding of thick walled pipes. Flux cored arc welding process is faster process with higher deposition rate and recently this process is getting more popular in pipe welding applications. Also, combination of gas metal arc welding and Nd:YAG laser has shown acceptable results in girth welding of land pipelines for oil and gas industry. This Master’s thesis can be implemented as a guideline in welding of pipes and tubes to achieve higher quality and efficiency. Also, this research can be used as a base material for future investigations to supplement present finding.

WiseRoot-prosessilla hitsatun päittäisliitoksen väsymislujuus

Työssä tutkittiin Kempin WiseRoot-prosessilla hitsattujen päittäisliitosten väsymiskestävyyttä laboratoriokokein ja väsymiskestävyyden mitoitusmenetelmillä. WiseRoot-hitsausprosessi on räätälöity lyhytkaariprosessi juuripalkojen hitsaukseen yhdeltä puolelta. Väsytyskoekappaleissa käytettiin eri lujuusluokan rakenneteräksiä sekä materiaalipaksuuksia. Mantsinen Group Ltd Oy hitsasi lisäksi yhdeltä ja kahdelta puolelta hitsattuja vertailukappaleita normaalilla MAG-hitsausprosessilla. Väsymismitoitus tehdään yleisesti perustuen väsymisluokkiin, joten väsytyskokeilla ja mitoitusmenetelmillä saatuja tuloksia tarkasteltiin näiden luokitusten avulla. Tuloksia vertailtiin sekä keskenään että standardeista löytyviin väsymisluokkasuosituksiin. Väsymiskestävyyden mitoitusmenetelmistä työssä käytettiin nimelliseen jännitykseen, teholliseen lovijännitykseen ja paikalliseen venymään perustuvaa menetelmää sekä murtumismekaniikkaa. Laboratoriokokeiden perusteella voidaan todeta, että WiseRoot-hitsausprosessilla on mahdollista tuottaa yhdeltä puolelta päittäisliitos, jonka väsymiskestävyys on verrattavissa kahdelta puolelta hitsattuun päittäisliitokseen. Mitoitusmenetelmillä saadut tulokset olivat pääsääntöisesti konservatiivisia verrattuna koetuloksiin. Ainoastaan paikalliseen venymään perustuvalla menetelmällä saadut väsymisluokat olivat suurempia kuin väsytyskoetulosten perusteella lasketut väsymisluokat.

Puristussylinterien valmistuksen kehittäminen

Tässä diplomityössä kehitettiin yksitoimisten puristussylinterien valmistusta Rautessa. Sylinterien valmistuksessa haastavin vaihe on sylinteriputken ja pohjan välinen hitsaus. Hitsauksen avuksi suunniteltiin sylinterin sisäpuolinen juuritukilaite. Hitsauskokeita suoritettiin hitsin pohjan jauhekaarihitsaukselle ja MAG-hitsaukselle. Juuritukilaitteen toimivuutta testattiin koehitsauksilla. Puristussylinterien materiaali on S355J2-terästä, jonka ainevahvuus on 20 – 60 mm. Paksujen rakenneterästen hitsauksessa täytyy ottaa huomioon hitsausliitoksen mekaanisten ominaisuuksien muuttuminen sekä eri halkeamien synty. Hitsauksen laatuun ja laadunhallintaan voidaan vaikuttaa monien eri tekijöiden avulla. Hitsausohjeen avulla, ja muut laatutekijät huomioiden, voidaan hitseille asetetut laatukriteerit täyttää. Juurituen käyttö nopeuttaa puristussylinterien hitsausta vähintään 50 %. Jauhekaarihitsaus kuparista juuritukea vasten synnyttää vaikeasti poistettavan kuonan juuren puolelle. Perinteinen MAG-hitsaus kuparista juuritukea vasten sisältää liian monta muuttujaa, mikä tekee siitä epäluotettavan pohjapalon hitsaukseen. Työssä suunnitellun juuritukilaitteen käyttö tuotannossa vaatii lisää hitsauskokeita.

Modifioidun MAG-kaarihitsausprosessin hyödyntäminen railotilavuuden pienentämisessä mekanisoidussa orbitaalihitsauksessa.

Länsimaisen työn hinta luo jatkuvan paineen hitsauksen tuottavuuden parantamiseen. MIG/MAG-hitsauksen tuottavuutta voidaan parantaa tehostamalla hitsausprosessia, vähentämällä hitsien lukumäärää ja pienentämällä hitsiaineen tarvetta. Eri virtalähdevalmistajat tuovat markkinoille hitsausprosesseja hitsauksen tehostamiseen, joilla pystytään korvata vähemmän tuottavia hitsaustyövaiheita. Hitsien lukumäärän vähentäminen on rakenteen suunnitteluun liittyvä tekijä ja hitsiaineen tarpeen pienentäminen voidaan toteuttaa railogeometrian muutoksilla tai tuotteen sopivalla suunnittelulla. Diplomityössä on tutkittu 30 mm paksujen S355 rakenneteräsputkien hitsauksen tuottavuuden kasvattamista käyttäen nykyaikaisia modifioituja kaarihitsausprosesseja ja railotilavuutta pienentämällä. Työssä vertailtiin 30o ja 60o railokulmalla tehtyjä liitoksia. Railogeometrian muutoksen lisäksi diplomityössä vertailtiin eri menetelmien tehokkuutta putken pohjapalon hitsauksessa.

Caracterização microestrutural e de propriedades mecânicas de soldas do aço ASTM A 131 pelos processos FCAW convencional e com adição de arame frio

O trabalho aqui representado retrata de modo comparativo as características mecânicas e microestruturais de metais de solda empregando duas técnicas de soldagem uma já disseminada, FCAW (Soldagem a Arco Voltaico com Arame Tubular) e a outra é inovadora, FCAW-AF (Soldagem a Arco Voltaico com Arame Tubular com Adição de um Arame Frio não energizado) em três níveis de velocidades 6, 8 e 10 m/min. Sendo que este processo variou os diâmetros dos arames frio adicionados, entre 0.8 e 1.0 mm. O metal de base utilizado foi o aço naval ASTM 131 grau A (baixo carbono) em geometria de chapas de 150 mm x 300 mm x 9,5 mm, aplicadas em chanfro em V (Bisel de 22,5º) com ângulo somado de 45º, com leve abertura de raiz de 2,4 mm. A solda usada foi do tipo topo com a aplicação de dois passes, um passe de raiz e o passe de acabamento (ou enchimento). A fim averiguar as condições desses cordões de solda foram realizados 05 tipos de ensaios destrutivos, são eles: dobramento transversal de face, tração, tenacidade ao impacto (tipo Charpy com entalhe em V), microdureza e o ensaio metalográficos. Além das análises não destrutivas como o ensaio visual e o líquido penetrante. De maneira geral, os resultados para o processo FCAW-AF, mostraram-se compatíveis, em relação ao processo FCAW convencional, porém alguns resultados apresentaram valores de propriedades mecânicas menores. Este fato pode, muito provavelmente ter ocorrido pela presença de descontinuidade na junta pelo FCAW-AF. Quanto às caracterizações microestruturais, os resultados da junta FCAW-AF foram semelhantes os da FCAW convencional para todos os níveis estudados.

Avaliação da soldagem GMAW mecanizada e automatizada para união de dutos utilizando fontes convencional e com controle de curto- circuito

Welding is one of the most employed process for joining steel pipes. Although, manual welding is still the most used one, mechanized version and even automatized one have increased its demand. Thus, this work deals with girth welding of API 5L X65 pipes with 8” of nominal diameter and 8.0 mm thickness, beveled with V-30º narrow gap. Torch is moved by a bug carrier (mechanized welding) and further the parameters are controlled as a function of angular position (automatized welding). Welding parameters are presented for filling the joint with two-passes (root and filling/capping passes). Parameters for the root pass were extracted from previous author´s work with weldments carried out in plates, but validated in this work for pipe welding. GMAW processes were assessed with short-circuit metal transfer in both conventional and derivative modes using different technologies (RMD, STT and CMT). After the parameter determination, mechanical testing was performed for welding qualification (uniaxial tension, face and root bending, nick break, Charpy V-notch impact, microhardness and macrograph). The initially obtained results for RMD and CMT were acceptable for all testing and, in a second moment, also for the STT. However, weld beads carried out by using the conventional process failed and revealed the existence of lack of fusion, which required further parametrization. Thus, a Parameter-Variation System for Girth Welding (SVP) was designed and built to allow varying the welding parameters as a function of angular position by using an inclinometer. The parameters were set for each of the three angular positions (flat, vertical downhill and overhead). By using such equipment and approach, the conventional process with parameter variation allowed reducing the welding time for joint accomplishment of the order of 38% for the root pass and 30% for the filling/capping pass.

Enhancement of germination of spores of Verticillium dahliae and Fusarium oxysporum esp vasinfectum in vascular fluid from cotton plants infected with the root-knot nematode

Root-knot nematode [RKN] (Meloidogyne incognita) can increase the severity of Verticillium (V dahliae) and Fusarium (F oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum) wilt diseases in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). This study was conducted to determine some of the physiological responses caused by nematode invasion that might decrease resistance to vascular wilt diseases. The effect of RKN was investigated on spore germination and protein, carbohydrate and peroxidase content in the xylem fluids extracted from nematode-infected plants. Two cotton cultivars were used with different levels of resistance to both of the wilt pathogens. Spore germination was greater in the xylem fluids from nematode-infected plants than from nematode-free plants. The effect on spore germination was greater in the Fusarium-resistant cultivar (51%). Analysis of these fluids showed a decrease in total protein and carbohydrate levels for both wilt-resistant cultivars, and an increase in peroxidase concentration. Fluids from nematode-free plants of the Verticillium-resistant cultivar contained 46% more peroxidase than the Fusarium-resistant cultivar. The results provide further evidence that the effect of RKN on vascular wilt resistance is systemic and not only local. Changes in metabolites in the xylem pass from the root to the stem, accelerating disease development.

Expressed Sequence Tags from a Root-Hair-Enriched Medicago truncatula cDNA Library1

The root hair is a specialized cell type involved in water and nutrient uptake in plants. In legumes the root hair is also the primary site of recognition and infection by symbiotic nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria. We have studied the root hairs of Medicago truncatula, which is emerging as an increasingly important model legume for studies of symbiotic nodulation. However, only 27 genes from M. truncatula were represented in GenBank/EMBL as of October, 1997. We report here the construction of a root-hair-enriched cDNA library and single-pass sequencing of randomly selected clones. Expressed sequence tags (899 total, 603 of which have homology to known genes) were generated and made available on the Internet. We believe that the database and the associated DNA materials will provide a useful resource to the community of scientists studying the biology of roots, root tips, root hairs, and nodulation.

Evaluation Of The Radiopacity Of Esthetic Root Canal Posts.

The radiopacity of esthetic root canal posts may impair the assessment of their fit to the root canal when using radiographic images. This study determined in vitro the radiographic density of esthetic root canal posts using digital images. Thirty-six roots of human maxillary canines were assigned to six groups (N=6 per group): Reforpost (RP); Aestheti-Plus (AP); Reforpost MIX (RPM); D.T. Light Post (LP); Reforpost Radiopaque (RPR); and White Post DC (WP). Standardized digital images of the posts were obtained in different conditions: outside the root canal, inside the canal before and after cementation using luting material, and with a tissue simulator. Analysis of variance was used to compare the radiopacity mean values among the posts outside the root canal and among the posts under the other conditions, and the t unpaired test to compare the radiopacity between the posts and the dentin, and between the posts and the root canal space. There was no statistically significant difference in radiopacity between RP and RPM, and LP and WP. AP posts showed radiopacity values significantly lower than those for dentin. No statistically significant difference was found between posts (RP and AP) and the root canal space. A statistically significant difference was observed between the luted and non-luted posts; additionally, luted posts with and without tissue simulator showed no significant differences. Most of the cement-luted posts analyzed in this study were distinguishable from the density of adjacent dentin surfaces, allowing radiographic confirmation of the fit of the post in the canal. The success of using esthetic root canal posts depends mainly on the fit of the post within the canal.[1] The radiopacity of a post allows for radiographic imaging to be used to determine the fit, an important factor in a clinical perspective.

Utilization Of (15)no3 (-) By Nodulated Soybean Plants Under Conditions Of Root Hypoxia.

Waterlogging of soils is common in nature. The low availability of oxygen under these conditions leads to hypoxia of the root system impairing the development and productivity of the plant. The presence of nitrate under flooding conditions is regarded as being beneficial towards tolerance to this stress. However, it is not known how nodulated soybean plants, cultivated in the absence of nitrate and therefore not metabolically adapted to this compound, would respond to nitrate under root hypoxia in comparison with non-nodulated plants grown on nitrate. A study was conducted with (15)N labelled nitrate supplied on waterlogging for a period of 48 h using both nodulated and non-nodulated plants of different physiological ages. Enrichment of N was found in roots and leaves with incorporation of the isotope in amino acids, although to a much smaller degree under hypoxia than normoxia. This demonstrates that nitrate is taken up under hypoxic conditions and assimilated into amino acids, although to a much lesser extent than for normoxia. The similar response obtained with nodulated and non-nodulated plants indicates the rapid metabolic adaptation of nodulated plants to the presence of nitrate under hypoxia. Enrichment of N in nodules was very much weaker with a distinct enrichment pattern of amino acids (especially asparagine) suggesting that labelling arose from a tissue source external to the nodule rather than through assimilation in the nodule itself.

Does The Reciproc File Remove Root Canal Bacteria And Endotoxins As Effectively As Multifile Rotary Systems?

To evaluate the effectiveness of Reciproc for the removal of cultivable bacteria and endotoxins from root canals in comparison with multifile rotary systems. The root canals of forty human single-rooted mandibular pre-molars were contaminated with an Escherichia coli suspension for 21 days and randomly assigned to four groups according to the instrumentation system: GI - Reciproc (VDW); GII - Mtwo (VDW); GIII - ProTaper Universal (Dentsply Maillefer); and GIV -FKG Race(™) (FKG Dentaire) (n = 10 per group). Bacterial and endotoxin samples were taken with a sterile/apyrogenic paper point before (s1) and after instrumentation (s2). Culture techniques determined the colony-forming units (CFU) and the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate assay was used for endotoxin quantification. Results were submitted to paired t-test and anova. At s1, bacteria and endotoxins were recovered in 100% of the root canals investigated (40/40). After instrumentation, all systems were associated with a highly significant reduction of the bacterial load and endotoxin levels, respectively: GI - Reciproc (99.34% and 91.69%); GII - Mtwo (99.86% and 83.11%); GIII - ProTaper (99.93% and 78.56%) and GIV - FKG Race(™) (99.99% and 82.52%) (P < 0.001). No statistical difference were found amongst the instrumentation systems regarding bacteria and endotoxin removal (P > 0.01). The reciprocating single file, Reciproc, was as effective as the multifile rotary systems for the removal of bacteria and endotoxins from root canals.

Convergence Of A Specialized Root Trait In Plants From Nutrient-impoverished Soils: Phosphorus-acquisition Strategy In A Nonmycorrhizal Cactus.

In old, phosphorus (P)-impoverished habitats, root specializations such as cluster roots efficiently mobilize and acquire P by releasing large amounts of carboxylates in the rhizosphere. These specialized roots are rarely mycorrhizal. We investigated whether Discocactus placentiformis (Cactaceae), a common species in nutrient-poor campos rupestres over white sands, operates in the same way as other root specializations. Discocactus placentiformis showed no mycorrhizal colonization, but exhibited a sand-binding root specialization with rhizosheath formation. We first provide circumstantial evidence for carboxylate exudation in field material, based on its very high shoot manganese (Mn) concentrations, and then firm evidence, based on exudate analysis. We identified predominantly oxalic acid, but also malic, citric, lactic, succinic, fumaric, and malonic acids. When grown in nutrient solution with P concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 μM, we observed an increase in total carboxylate exudation with decreasing P supply, showing that P deficiency stimulated carboxylate release. Additionally, we tested P solubilization by citric, malic and oxalic acids, and found that they solubilized P from the strongly P-sorbing soil in its native habitat, when the acids were added in combination and in relatively low concentrations. We conclude that the sand-binding root specialization in this nonmycorrhizal cactus functions similar to that of cluster roots, which efficiently enhance P acquisition in other habitats with very low P availability.

Influence Of Delivery Method On Neuroprotection By Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Therapy Following Ventral Root Reimplantation With Fibrin Sealant.

The present work compared the local injection of mononuclear cells to the spinal cord lateral funiculus with the alternative approach of local delivery with fibrin sealant after ventral root avulsion (VRA) and reimplantation. For that, female adult Lewis rats were divided into the following groups: avulsion only, reimplantation with fibrin sealant; root repair with fibrin sealant associated with mononuclear cells; and repair with fibrin sealant and injected mononuclear cells. Cell therapy resulted in greater survival of spinal motoneurons up to four weeks post-surgery, especially when mononuclear cells were added to the fibrin glue. Injection of mononuclear cells to the lateral funiculus yield similar results to the reimplantation alone. Additionally, mononuclear cells added to the fibrin glue increased neurotrophic factor gene transcript levels in the spinal cord ventral horn. Regarding the motor recovery, evaluated by the functional peroneal index, as well as the paw print pressure, cell treated rats performed equally well as compared to reimplanted only animals, and significantly better than the avulsion only subjects. The results herein demonstrate that mononuclear cells therapy is neuroprotective by increasing levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Moreover, the use of fibrin sealant mononuclear cells delivery approach gave the best and more long lasting results.

Long-term Spinal Ventral Root Reimplantation, But Not Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Treatment, Positively Influences Ultrastructural Synapse Recovery And Motor Axonal Regrowth.

We recently proposed a new surgical approach to treat ventral root avulsion, resulting in motoneuron protection. The present work combined such a surgical approach with bone marrow mononuclear cells (MC) therapy. Therefore, MC were added to the site of reimplantation. Female Lewis rats (seven weeks old) were subjected to unilateral ventral root avulsion (VRA) at L4, L5 and L6 levels and divided into the following groups (n = 5 for each group): Avulsion, sealant reimplanted roots and sealant reimplanted roots plus MC. After four weeks and 12 weeks post-surgery, the lumbar intumescences were processed by transmission electron microscopy, to analyze synaptic inputs to the repaired α motoneurons. Also, the ipsi and contralateral sciatic nerves were processed for axon counting and morphometry. The ultrastructural results indicated a significant preservation of inhibitory pre-synaptic boutons in the groups repaired with sealant alone and associated with MC therapy. Moreover, the average number of axons was higher in treated groups when compared to avulsion only. Complementary to the fiber counting, the morphometric analysis of axonal diameter and g ratio demonstrated that root reimplantation improved the motor component recovery. In conclusion, the data herein demonstrate that root reimplantation at the lesion site may be considered a therapeutic approach, following proximal lesions in the interface of central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), and that MC therapy does not further improve the regenerative recovery, up to 12 weeks post lesion.