Article RT-6 of Section X of the ASME Code specifies a mandatory acoustic emission test for one-of-a-kind fiber reinforced plastic pressure vessels. In addition, the Article sets out the unique requirements for testing pressure vessels and enumerates specific evaluation criteria. The basic test procedure is covered in Article 11 of Section V of the Code. The technical issues underlying the provisions of these documents are reviewed in this paper. Test results, defects detected, and problems encountered with three tests of a Section X pressure vessel raised a number of issues concerning the acoustic emission test. As a direct result, recommendations were developed for improving Article RT-6, and a number of changes have been accepted by the Section X Subcommittee. The most important of these changes is addition of a new paragraph covering testing of repaired vessels. The paragraph has now been incorporated into the Code.

Subject
Pressure vessels, Test methods, Water, Sensors, Materials, Hydrostatic pressure, Acoustic emission, Fiber reinforced plastic, Instrumentation, Defects, Repair, Fibers, Acoustic emission testing
Keywords:
acoustic emission, fiber reinforced plastic, ASME Code, repair, pressure vessel
© 1997 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1997
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
You do not currently have access to this content.