Mechanical Testing

A range of mechanical testing services in support of structural integrity are available including oil and gas industry umbilicals and personal protective equipment (PPE Protection).

Umbilical Hose Chemical Compatibility Testing
NEL conducts umbilical hose chemical compatibility tests for evaluating chemical compatibility between proposed service fluid and the hose liner materials.

There are essentially three types of compatibility testing as detailed in BS ISO 13628-5:2009 and API 17E Fourth Edition 2010 which are offered by NEL:

Cyclic (and static) pressure testing
Immersion testing (gross incompatibility test)
Permeability testing

Temperatures, test durations and periodic removal of hoses are normally client specified. Elevated temperature may be applied to accelerate ageing.

Please contact us for more regarding chemical compatibility services.

Degradation analysis techniques
To assess degradation of the hose liners following chemical compatibility testing, NEL can supply the following degradation analysis techniques:

Hydrostatic pressure tests (in general accordance with BS EN ISO 13628-5 and ISO 1402)
- Leakage test
- Proof pressure decay test
- Burst Test
Tensile tests (in general accordance with BS EN ISO 527)
- Yield strength
- Ultimate tensile strength
- Percentage elongation
- Young's Modulus
Shore hardness
Changes in weight and volume (swell)
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) examinations
Fluid analysis
- Turbidity
- Specific gravity
- Centrifugation
- Gas Chromatography (GC) Analysis
- Infrared Spectroscopy

Hydrostatic pressure tests (leakage, burst and proof pressure/decay) give a good indication of any pressure loss of the hose following ageing with the test fluid. Conclusions can then be drawn regarding compatibility of the hose liner material and test fluid.

Scanning Electron Microscopy examination is conducted on the internal surface of the hose liner to detect the presence of any cracks or irregularities in the material which would indicate incompatibility.

Fluid analysis is carried out to establish if, during testing, any changes occur in the fluid characteristics which would indicate compatibility issues with the liner material by comparing the control fluid with the aged fluid samples.

Compatibility testing of umbilical system components
The facilities are also employed to test compatibility of the following with the proposed service fluid:

Metallic umbilical hoses (steel tubes)
Chemical injection metering valve alloys
Elastomeric seal components

Corrosion of metallic components can be analysed by the following methods:

Determination of weight loss
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) examinations
Fluid analysis
- Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE Protection) Testing

TUV NEL: PPE Rig NEL has extensive experience of inspecting, assessing and PPE Protection testing, particularly fall arrest systems and devices. As a UKAS-approved test house, NEL is accredited to conduct tests to EN standards.

As a notified body for Category III fall protection PPE Protection, NEL provide EC type testing to the highest standard and CE approval of critical life saving products across Europe. With state-of-the-art test facilities and expert staff, NEL continue to lead pioneering research to help improve the safety of workers at height.

Our purpose built facility features multiple dynamic test rigs which are used for routine tests as well as product development and investigation. A range of static test machines is also available and can be configured to apply tensile, compressive or cyclic loading. Other features include horizontal test capabilities as well as a maximum fall height of 7m providing clients with the opportunity to have their products tested under realistic conditions.

Reaching New Heights in Personal Protective Equipment Testing
Being able to accurately predict and measure how a fall protection system will perform during a fall, and the effects on the user, is crucial for all manufacturers, buyers and users of personal protective equipment (PPE). NEL can replicate real life examples of falls workers may experience when working at heights using anthropometric dummies and measurement techniques to replicate the external and internal forces the human body would be subjected to during a fall. These "Fall Back" tests are just one example of the work being carried out at NEL to ensure safety standards reach new heights.

For further information on our mechanical testing, PPE protection and testing or or to discuss your requirements, please click here.

TUV NEL: Mechanical Tests and PPE Protection Testing