Introduction: The scope of the project is to develop the calibration, algorithms and conduct initial field trials using the Method, based on analysis of the condition, properties and performance of field and factory PE samples. This would be done in conjunction with PE pipe manufacturers and would also include drawing on data gathered from the IFI/NIA project NIA_NGGD0010 - PE asset life research.

Objectives:

The objectives of the project will be to: • Produce a review report summarising current gas pipe and jointing QA and NDT methods and defining the application of spectroscopic methods to gas pipe measurement giving enough information to enable the confident specification and selection of the portable hand-held spectrometers that meet the application requirements for the project • Building a base spectroscopy library of PE pipe based on a wide variety of samples of different ages, manufacturers and mechanical conditions • Building on the above, to build up a spectroscopic library of different weld conditions and faults, including inclusions, air bubbles, welds with poor weld strength or alignment for different grades and manufacturers of pipe • Software development and fusion joint metric analysis to enable the above library to be used enable the most effective condition assessment protocols to be produced • Demonstration of the transferability of the method onto a variety of different manufacturers hardware platforms

Expected Benefits: The success criteria of the project would be: • That the analysis report summarising current gas pipe QA and NDT methods and defining the application of spectroscopic methods to gas pipe measurement would give enough information to enable the confident specification and selection of the portable hand-held spectrometers that meet the application requirements for the project • The production of two working analysers that have carried out first level assessment of multiple gas pipes and materials grades and show good capability for materials identification and measurement of physical properties of currently produced pipe materials • The ability to construct measurement models for weld quality assessment related to key materials characteristics and to measure these spatially using spectroscopic methods to map the condition of the joint. • Demonstration that the software models will operate on alternative spectrometers that satisfy the application requirements. • A final report detailing the findings from the Project and giving recommendations for a final product which can be used by unskilled, trained operatives for all measurement applications.