Evaluation of Carbon/Epoxy Composites for Structural Pipeline Repair

The University of Tulsa, Citadel Technologies, and T.D. Williamson, Inc. were selected by The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology (OCAST) for a program of research and testing a non-metallic structural pipeline repair composite sleeve. The name of this composite repair system is Diamond Wrap and the system is based on carbon fabric with an epoxy matrix wrapped around a damaged pipe. Baseline material coupon level testing has been completed on the repair system to compile data to fully define the engineering properties of the current primary product to which all changes and improvements can be compared. These properties include ultimate tensile strength and modulus in the longitudinal and transverse directions, lap shear strength, glass transition temperature, and coefficient of thermal expansion. Full scale fatigue and static rupture tests were also performed on pressure vessels to determine the effectiveness of repairs made using the overwrap repair system.