Preliminary Testing Results for the Application of a Nondestructive Evaluation Technique Utilizing the Phenomenon of Internal Friction for Detecting Crack Formation in a Scale Model of an Offshore Structure.

The safety and reliability of offshore structures and critical components are becoming increasingly recognized as a major area requiring utilization of advanced technology for detecting and evaluating incipient crack formation by nondestructive evaluation. These operating structures and critical components are exposed to extreme oceanic environments including dynamic forces (wave loads, wind loads, ice loads, etc); sea water corrosion; spray erosion; and wide fluctuations in temperature. Although adequate factors of safety and modern engineering practices are employed in designing and operating these structures, it is impossible to anticipate and evaluate properly all of the environmental factors in order to ensure the safety and reliability of the system. Because of the complex interaction of the wide spectrum of environmental and material factors, it is imperative that inspection techniques be utilized. One method for system evaluation is to employ a suitable nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technique that would indicate impending material failure.