Product Testing and Evaluation

• Full Scale and Sample Testing
• Acoustic Emission (AE) Monitoring and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
• Design Evaluation
• Materials Evaluation for Intended Services
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Overview

Many products cannot be tested in a manner equivalent to their end use. Although it is possible to simulate operation by applying temperature and pressure changes; other conditions, such as bending and load combinations, cannot be reasonably simulated in a test situation. Through a combination of analytical modeling and non-destructive and destructive laboratory tests, FSE provides meaningful evaluations that are appropriate for the end use of the product.

• Services Provided

Applicability

In general, products should be tested in a manner that simulates end use conditions. End use testing of FRP products is particularly important, considering the wide range of physical properties that can occur through variations in designs and the fabrication quality of composites.

The major limitation of both destructive and non-destructive performance testing is the inability to apply all of the actual operating loads during the test. For instance, the simple hydrotest, commonly required after fabrication of a vessel or piping system, is basically a leak test that may have little value in testing for the long-term structural adequacy of the equipment, since loads developed may not be representative of actual service conditions.

Services Provided

Often, load conditions specified in FRP testing standards do not relate to the actual end use of the product. FSE integrates a variety of analytical and testing techniques, such as tensile strength testing, ignition loss testing (burn test), hydro and burst testing, combining the strengths of each, to gain the highest confidence in the adequacy of the product for the intended service. FSE's approach includes the following steps:

• Review the product/equipment process and design requirements, including fabrication methods, corrosion requirements and strength requirements.
  
  
• Determine expected laminate physical properties through laminate theory analysis after reviewing fabrication methods and raw materials.
  
  
• Determine the expected mode of failure for the equipment through engineering analysis, including first sign of failure and ultimate structural failure.
  
  
• Test the whole product or the critical parts of the equipment to determine capabilities. Test aids are employed as required to improve the analytical results, including strain gauging and Acoustic Emission (AE) Testing.
  
  
• Report findings, including comparison of actual test results as they compare to theoretical analysis for product analysis, evaluation and confirmation.