The specs for the new design-build of an offshore structure called for enhanced fatigue performance from critical tubular components. A major obstacle of the project was that standard approaches to improving fatigue performance were deemed insufficient due to water depth, pressure and the regulatory environment. Additional challenges lay in the location of the fatigue-critical weldment to be treated by Applied Ultrasonics. The weldment was located 35 feet inside of a tubular component too small to fit an Applied Ultrasonics’ technician and too far inside of the component to treat with standard methods.
The situation was further complicated by the fabricator’s doubt that Applied Ulstronics’ Esonix UIT process would meet specified surface finish requirements.
Applied Ultrasonics’ Engineering Services team was called in to evaluate the problem and recommend a solution. Throughout the process, the customer, engineering firm and fabricator were consulted in order to refine the solution.
The approved plan proposed by Applied Ultrasonics was a novel and proprietary solution. Applied Ultrasonics designed and built a unique device that enabled automated, controlled, repeatable, high-quality treatment of internal diameter (ID) surfaces up to 50 feet from the end of the tube. Samples treated with Esonix UIT were sent to the owner, engineering firm and fabricator for surface finish evaluation.
All three approved of the quality of the surface finish, giving Applied Ultrasonics the green light to deploy a certified treatment and inspection team to the fabricator’s jobsite. The Applied Ultrasonics’ team worked around the clock with the fabricator and engineering firm to complete the project within the client’s very tight shipping schedule.