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Vibration-Induced Fatigue

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Vibration Fatigue is a specific type of mechanical fatigue that is caused by the vibration of equipment during operation. Like other forms of fatigue, vibrations can initiate a crack which may lead to propogation of the crack and eventual failure of the equipment. The most commonly affected areas of vibration fatigue include areas around pumps, compressors, and rotating equipment.

The amount of damage is related to the magnitude and frequency of vibration and results in the form of brittle cracking. Cracking caused by vibration fatigue can be detected using surface nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques. However, inspection is not the most cost-effective or reliable method for locating and monitoring cracks caused by vibration fatigue.

Not all materials are subject to vibration-induced fatigue failures. Some materials, such as carbon and low alloy steels, have an endurance limit (sometimes called the fatigue limit). The endurance limit is the stress amplitude below which the material will never fail by fatigue, regardless of the number of fatigue cycles. For carbon and low alloy steels, the endurance limit is usually 40 to 50% of the tensile strength of the material. Materials such as the austenitic stainless steels (i.e. the 300-series) do not have endurance limits. Regardless of the stress amplitude, these materials will eventually fail if they are in a vibrating service for a sufficient length of time.

Mitigation Measures

The best defense against vibration-induced fatigue is in initial design, the use of supports, and vibration dampening equipment. Some important notes on mitigation:

  • Material upgrades are usually not a solution.
  • Small bore piping near pumps or compressors has higher risk to vibration-induced fatigue. Installation of gussets or stiffeners can mitigate small bore piping fatigue problems.
  • Installation of restraints in the wrong places can aggravate the problem instead of mitigating it. Therefore, post-construction installation of restraint systems should be done by personnel qualified to judge where such restraint will be beneficial.
  • Vortex shedding can be minimized at the outlet of control valves and safety valves through proper side branch sizing and flow stabilization techniques. Note that purpose-designed pressure reducing valves are available that are essentially immune to vibration-induced fatigue failure.

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Articles about Vibration-Induced Fatigue
September/October 2022 Inspectioneering Journal

An assessment of the vibration behavior observed and recorded on a pre-flash column overhead piping system and the strategic methodologies used based on a proactive troubleshooting technique.

March/April 2021 Inspectioneering Journal

This article provides insights into the AIV damage mechanism, reviews approaches to calculate the probability of AIV failure in piping, provides design practices to prevent AIV failure, and introduces a RBI approach to evaluate risk of AIV failures.

January/February 2020 Inspectioneering Journal

There are many sources and occurrences of metal fatigue in the chemical and refining industries. They range from low-cycle thermal stresses in an FCCU, to the relentless pressure cycling of a PSA, to the ultra-high cycles of a rotating pump.

Authors: Greg Garic, P.E.
July/August 2018 Inspectioneering Journal

API 579-1 is a complex document covering several different types of equipment that may contain flaws or damage. Due to its complexity, this article condenses it into six things you need to know.

Authors: Greg Garic, P.E.
July/August 2016 Inspectioneering Journal

An overview of process piping vibration and evaluating piping systems in vibration service to reduce harmful vibrations.

Partner Content

Antea delivers highly flexible risk-based asset integrity software with 3D Digital Twin integration to optimize maintenance, reduce risk, and improve mechanical integrity for oil and gas, power generation, and chemical plants and facilities....

November/December 2015 Inspectioneering Journal

Excessive vibration is a problem frequently encountered in industrial plants and their peripheral equipment, including piping systems, pressure vessels, and steel structures. Long term excessive vibration can lead to fatigue crack propagation and...

May/June 2014 Inspectioneering Journal

Ensuring the integrity of process piping systems in the Oil & Gas industry (specifically those related to the ASME Code B31.3) is a key issue with respect to the process, business, safety, and the environment. However, in the current cost reduction...

Authors: Fernando Vicente
July/August 2003 Inspectioneering Journal

Few of us have not experienced or heard about vibration fatigue (cracking) failures, especially around pumps and compressors. Typically small branch connections, equalizer lines, vents and drains are susceptible, especially if they are screwed...

Authors: John Reynolds
January/February 1997 Inspectioneering Journal

There are a number of terms to describe commonly experienced problem conditions with reciprocating compressors. One of the terms that I have always appreciated is the pendulum action of a large unsupported mass on the end of a vibrating pipe.

Authors: Del Underwood

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