Mechanical Properties of Loading Arm - Research Paper Example

Mechanical Properties of Loading Arm (Packing) In Relation To Leaking Problem The main objective of this experiment was to test the packing process, in the loadin arm, for its association with the leaking problems occurring in petroleum transportation. The experiment involved the use of three instruments (techniques): The CSM Tribometers, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and tensile testin machine mechanical. In order to achieve the major objectives of these instruments were used to determine the various variables associated to the parking process, which may associate with leaking problem. The CSM tribometer was used in measuring the forces between the two materials in order to calculate the friction associated, while wear was calculated after measuring the volume of the material lost during the experiment. The mechanial testing machine was used to measure the tensile strength which was then used in performing a quality control for the spare part. In this case, the quality control was helpful in determining how the materials react when subjected to various types of forces. The differential scanning calorimetry, through its ability to measure oxidative stability, was used in determining the stability of the material contained in the spare parts. Apart from the stability, the DSC also helped in defining the optimum storage capability of the packing process. 2. Introduction The export of oil is one of the inherent activities that earn the country a revenue to maintain a good standard of living. However, the revenue delivered may not be optimum especially when considering the rate of wear and tear occuring in the loading arms. The signficance of including loading arm in this study is because it represent an equipment used in shipping oil the production process. This triggered the main objective of the study which was to study the spare part, packing, for its association to the worrying problem of leaking petrols at the ports. The accessment of the spare part provides possible solution because it gives more information about the various parts that susceptible to damage in the loading arm. Further, the background of the study resulted from the urge to reduce the delay problems caused by the probability of mechanical breakdowns occuring when loadin gas products at the ports. In case of gas products, the problem causes havoc at the ports since the customer (travellers) have to be stopped from the moving, to assure them of safety transactions. The effect of the breakdown on the customers add to the weight of this study, which was to perfom experiment on the sealant (parking in the loading arm) and extract results useful in providing probable solutions. In order to achieve the objective of the study, the experiment involved the use of three instruments in studyign the spare part. The three instruments used included The CSM Tribometers, mechanical tensile testing machine and Differential scanning calorimetry. Each of these instruments and techniques had an innate part to play in analysing the packing process. The CSM tribometer helped in the measurement of friction and wear properties of the material associated with the packing process (Hadfield 133). Pictures are included in the result section to show the materials (steel and plastic) that were tested by the CSM tribometer. The instrument was used in measuring the forces between the two materials in order to calculate the friction associated, while wear was calculated after measuring the volume of the material lost during the experiment. The differential scanning calorimetry, through its ability to measure oxidative stability, was used in determining the stability of the material contained in the spare parts. The mechanical testing machine was used to measure the tensile strength which was then used in performing a quality control for the spare part (Jadon 24) 3. Experiment 3.1 Materials CSM tribometer mechanical tensile testing machine Differential scanning calorimetry 3.2 Procedure During application of tribometer, a spherical probe was placed on the steel. The steel was then loaded with a known weight and allowed to rotate in a linear track. The frictional force, between the steel and the spherical, robe was then measured and recorded by measuring the deflection force on the arm of the CSM Iinstrument, which is the stroke length. The rotation speed, maximum test radius and torque of the test sample was also measured during the operation. The following images show CSM instruments ready for use during the experiment: Figura – CSM Instruments Standard Tribometer Figura – CSM Instruments Standard Tribometer In differential calorimetry, the oxidative stability of the material was determined. The material was tested, under a suitable temperature in an inert atmosphere. Oxygen was then added to the set followed by recording any oxidation occurring during the experiment, as indicated by the instrument. The following is a set-up used in the experiment: For the mechanical tensile testing machine, the steel was cut into two, one with 0.5 inches diameter and the other with 0.35 inches of diameter. The piece, of 0.5 inches diameter, was place in the testing machine. Tension was then applied up to the point when the material fractured. The elongation of the gauge section was also measured against the force applied during the test. The diameter tolerance was also measured during the process. This whole test was repeated for the other piece with 0.35 inches diameter. To know the volumes the sample of some pieces of iron and plastic were taken. The following are the diagrams showing a mechanical tensile testing machine used in the experiment: Figure: mechanical testing machine MTS Alliance RT/50 4. Results 4.1 Packing The following is an image obtained for the packing process and its association to the leaking process: paching Loading arm Packing occurs here And occurs here Another side In the event of carrying out a test on one of the important parts in the party ports shipping, Packing, the spare parts was cut into sections. The packing consists of 3 pieces beyond a piece of plastic as in Fig.1 and the second form of iron, as well as Figure 3 were cut to conduct experiments as shown in the pictures In this image the spare part was cut into 3 pieces. After cutting 2 3 Piece of steel piece of plastic 4.2 Results obtained from the experiments 4.2.1 First experiment (The CSM Tribometers) Data sheet Nano Micro Load range 50 μN - 1 N up to 60 N Load resolution 0.1μN 30 mN Maximum friction force 10 μN - 1 N 10 N (20 N optional) Friction resolution 1 μN 5 mN Maximum temperature - 1000 °C Rotation Speed 1 - 100 rpm 0.3 500 rpm (1500 rpm optional) Maximum test radius 30 μm - 10 mm 30 mm Maximum torque - 450 mN x m Stroke length 10 - 500 μm 60 mm Speed Up to 10mm/sec Up to 100 mm/sec Frequency 0.1 - 10 Hz 1.6 Hz at full stroke Up to 10 Hz with limited stroke 4.2.2 Second experiment (Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) Figure showing a graph obtained for heat flow against the temperature Mass of sample: 7.1mg Enthalpy of melting: 118.35.92J/g Onset temperature: 124.92oC Peak melting temperature: 133.78oC Percentage crystallinity of steel sample: The percentage crystallinity is therefore: Thermogram of polymer with the following transitions: Endothermic transition at 80oC, Tg at 145oC, Tm of 235oC and a decomposition temperature of 400oC 4.2.3 Third experiment (Tensile testing machine mechanical) To know the volumes the sample of some pieces of iron and plastic were taken, these results size of each piece is: Weight (g) Thickness (cm) L1 (cm) L2 (cm) Volumes (V) 1- plastic 0.147 0.13 0.68 0.9 1.8476 g/cm3 2- plastic .0152 0.13 0.69 0.9 1.8828 g/cm3 3- plastic 0.193 0.13 0.73 1.1 1.8488 g/cm3 4- sheet 0.201 0.5 0.65 0.8 0.773 g/cm3 5- sheet 0.191 0.5 0.64 0.85 0.7022 g/cm3 Engineering strain (0.9 – 0.68)/0.68 = = 0.32 Figure: mechanical testing machine MTS Alliance RT/50 The pressing was performed by using a universal testing machine "MTS Alliance RT/50" equipped with load cell "MTS 661.20F-02" can support loads up to 50 kN. The machine is controlled using the software "Test Works" V.4.07, mod.100089755" from which it is possible the programming of all the parameters of the process, such as preload, speed in the preload, speed in the compression phase, the maximum force and frequency of data acquisition. The graphic interface of the software allows you to view real-time slope of the force as a function of the displacement, the curves obtained are available in digital format and can be exported in a common spreadsheet environment Office for processing the data. . Steel results 1- 2- 3- 4- 5. Discussion 5.1 Tensile strength The graph of load “N” shows that as the load increases, so does the elongation of the steel increases. This increases upto a point when the plastic cannot hold no more consequently leading to the leaking problem. The engineering straing for plastic was found to be 0.32. This indicates that at a weight load of 353 Kg, the maximum strain exerted is 0.32. The plastic will fail at 0.32 of elongation (Davis 66). 5.2 Wear and tear: The CSM tribometer helped in the measurement of friction and wear properties of the material associated with the packing process (Hosson 146). The determined frictional force was 10 N meaning the determined maximum magnitude of friction needed for this system is 10 N. This means that at a maximum temperature of 10000C and maximum load range of 60 N, approximate of 10 N of friction force is yielded. 5.3 Thermal stability While using the differential calorimetry, the temperature for melting was determined to be 124.92oC for 7.1 mg of steel, while the peak melting temperature was 133.78oC.This means that at 124.92 oC of 7.1 mg, steel molecules gains enough vibrational freedom to allow them break free. This indicates the point at which the packing process is susceptible to leaking. The peak degradation temperature was 133.78oC indicating that at this point the plastic cannot hold any more of its content in the packing process (Reading & Douglas 38). 6. Conclusion The completion of the experiment, lead to the achievement of the aforementioned objective of determining testing the tensile strength, thermal stability and wear and tear associated to one of the spare parts, founding in loading arm. The results from the experiment show the specific values for the variables that the port administrators should not always exceed; otherwise the leaking problem will continue to hinder the value of oil exportation. The port administrators should consider measuring the maximum engineering strain of the plastic to ensure that there is no susceptibility to breakage of the structure. Work cited Hosson, J T. M, and C A. Brebbia. Surface Effects and Contact Mechanics Xi: Computational Methods and Experiments. , 2013. Print. Hadfield, M, J Seabra, and C A. Brebbia. Tribology & Design. Southampton: WIT, 2010. Print. Davis, J R. Tensile Testing. Materials Park, Ohio: ASM International, 2004. Internet resource. Jadon, Vijay K, and Suresh Verma. Analysis and Design of Machine Elements. New Delhi: I.K. International Pub. House, 2010. Print. Höhne, Günther W. H, Hans-Jürgen Flammersheim, and Wolfgang Hemminger. Differential Scanning Calorimetry: With 19 Tables. Berlin [u.a.: Springer, 2003. Print. Reading, Mike, and Douglas J. Hourston. Modulated Temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry: Theoretical and Practical Applications in Polymer Characterisation. Dordrecht: Springer, 2006. Internet resource. Read More