Root Cause Analysis of a Failed Pressure Vessel: Putting it all together
Guillermo Ramirez PE, PHD
Technical Manager - Advanced Engineering at ABS Consulting
The failure and root cause analysis of a failed carbon steel pressure vessel, highlighted several conditions that came together to result in the abrupt failure of the vessel. This presentation will focus on the general steps for a root cause analysis using the ABS developed methodology, the aspects of the failure analysis including material evaluation, failure surface clues and a newly developed methodology to evaluate vessels for similar conditions that propitiated the failure. The methodology can be applied to more than one type of RCA, from structural to financial the presentation will also serve as a reminder of the consequence of manufacturing methods and limitations of design codes.
About the speaker:
Dr. Ramirez is an expert in structural engineering design and evaluation with more than 20 years of professional experience. Key areas of expertise include forensic engineering, finite element linear and nonlinear modeling and simulation of structures and components in addition to the performance of steel and composite materials, concrete and other materials. He is experienced in the retrofit and field instrumentation of existing structures using conventional materials and techniques as well as advanced fiber composites. Dr. Ramirez is experienced in the use of health monitoring protocols and evaluation of structures with nondestructive inspection methods. He has participated as member of the root cause analysis team for structural collapses, FPSO’s and major explosions and fire events including at international sites. He has also participated in the forensic evaluation of well cementing material and procedures in the investigation of high consequence incidents.
Dr. Ramirez conducted research in composite materials applications for the evaluation of production and drilling riser prototypes. This work included development of test protocols and operation of high pressure testing systems (30 ksi). He has also performed failure analysis, root cause identification and testing of a wide range of structures and equipment. He has conducted HAZOP and HAZIDs for offshore installations. Other areas of specialized expertise include design and analysis of pressure vessels and use of fiber reinforced plastic composites in offshore applications and hydrogen storage tanks.
Dr. Ramirez serves on a number of technical committees. He is a current member of the ASME boiler and pressure vessel code committee; he is also the former chair of the Nondestructive Evaluation Committee for ASME, former chair for the American Concrete Institute technical committee on composite and hybrid construction and is currently the chair of the Committee on Acoustic Emission for reinforced plastic (CARP) for ASNT. He has served as member of the executive committee for ASME and ASNT.
1.0 Professional Development Hour
