|
Fitness-For-Service
Fitness-for-Service evaluations include two types of assessments:
- Current serviceability - In the present condition, determination if the equipment is able to provide safe operations and failure free service.
- Service Life Prediction - Based on the present conditions and historical performance determination of the remaining service life of the equipment.
Such studies require experience and knowledge of metallurgy, fracture
mechanics and corrosion engineering. Additionally, they need to incorporate
historical information from inspections, maintenance, prior failure analysis
as well as make an assessment of future service requirements. The most
difficult types of assessment are those which involve time dependent
cracking of the materials. This requires in-depth knowledge of the cracking
mechanisms and their behavior under anticipated operating conditions.
Laboratory testing and analytical work can provide useful information from
which fitness-for-service evaluations can be made.
|
|
|
