concawe Appendix IIL INTRODUCTION Acoustic fatigue is the phenomenon of metal failure caused by high noise levels. There are few reports of it in the literature and it is possible that fatigue failures due to noise have been attributed to other causes. It is mainly expected to occur in pipes in gas service where there is a high internal noise level due to pressure let-down at valves and orifices. This would normally occur in compressor or desuperheater systems but it has also occurred with liquid flow where there is severe cavitation. The noise levels involved are above 1104B(A) and would undoubtedly be considered high to an observer. Fatigue failures which have been identified as being due to acoustic vibrations have generally been in large size pipes with gaseous flow where the diameter/thickness ratio is relatively high and the stiffness of the pipe wall is low. Acoustic vibrations should not be confused with low-frequency mechanical vibrations such as those associated with pressure pulsations~due to reciprocating compressors. These have frequencies in the range of 10 Hz to 30 Hz whereas acoustic vibrations are in the range of 500 Hz and above and cannot be seen or felt because their amplitudes are small. The purpose of this questionnaire is to obtain information on pipe failures where there was an associated high level of noise. Where possible, this should be quantitative but it is recognised that, in many Cases, noise levels would not have been measured and Subjective assessment of the noise will be the only information available. It would be helpful also to receive information on pipe systems which are operating satisfactorily in conditions where acoustic fatigue might be expected and it is requested that 2.2 and the following questions should be answered as far as possible. If sufficient information is obtained it is hoped to give guidance on the critical levels of pipe noise above which there is significant risk of fatigue failure. In these cases, acoustic measures such as pipe insulation or enclosures will merely cover up a possible risk and it will be essential to reduce the noise at source. 22concawe Appendix III 2.2 QUESTIONNAIRE ON ACOUSTIC FATIGUE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH NOISE LEVELS Please fill in a separate questionn: re for each reported fatigue failure or non-failure, answering the questions as far as possible. Questions 2.3 ~ 2.8 should be answered for all cases, whether of failure or non-failure. CASES OF PATLURE (a) (b) Type of failure = Cracking in pipe wall - Cracking in nozzle - Weld failure Pipe configuration Did failure occur: ~ At tee joint - At pipe branch - At pipe reducer - Elsewhere (Give sketch and type of fitting, and ‘any other details). CASES OF NON FATLURE If systems are operated without failure in the following categories please indicate: (a) (b) Downstream line size 350 mm (Iéin) and greater with mass flow greater than 91,000 kg/h (200,000 1b/h) or with a pressure ratio greater than 3. Downstream line size 200mm (Bin) to 350mm (14in) and down-stream line velocity greater than 50% sonic velocity (0.5 Ma) and a pressure ratio greater than 3. 23concawe Appendix IIL 2.4 (c) Downstream line less than 200mm (8in) swaged up or teed to 200mm or larger line with dowm- stream line velocity greater than 50% sonic velocity (0.5 Ma) and a pressure ratio greater than 3. at (a) Line is liquid service where severe cavitation is present. PIPE DETAILS (a) What was the diameter and schedule of pipe? (b) What was the diameter and schedule of tee or branch? NOISE SOURCE Was the noise in the pipe due to: (a) Valve (b) Orifice (ec) Bjector (a) Compressor or blower (e) Desuperheater (£) Tee joint into large diameter pipe (Give details or type of equipment, vendor etc.) FLOW DETAILS (a) Type of fluid (>) Mass flow in pipe, or volume flow and gas density in pipe (©) Pressure in pipe (a) Pressure difference across noise source (ec) Fluid temperature (£) Molecular weight | (g) Is fluid velocity sonic? 24concawe Appendix III 2.6 (b) TIME IN SERVICE What was the approximate time of service under noisy conditions? NOISE LEVEL AND TYPE OF NOISE Was the noise: (a) (b) High pitched? Low pitched? If the noise level was measured: (a) (b) What was noise level in dB(A) and in octave band, if available? At what distance from the pipe was it measured? If the noise level was not measured: (a) (c) Was the noise painful to the ear at about Im. from pipe? Was the noise too loud to communicate by shouting at about 0.5m. apart? Could you communicate with raised voice at about 0.5m. apart? PIPE VIBRATION Was there pipe vibration visible to the eye? 25concawe Appendix IIL CONTACT Please give the name and address of a person who could be contacted for further information. Name: Title: Address: To be returned to your company's representative in CONCAWE by 15th May 1983. 26concaweconcawe 28