We can help you gain acceptance of the results that have been obtained, using techniques such as engineering critical assessment (ECA), and fitness for service (FFS), including flaw acceptance limits, demonstration of structural integrity of in-service components, repair avoidance, life extension, and risk evaluation.
Engineering critical assessment
An engineering critical assessment (ECA) uses fracture mechanics' principles, to analyse whether a given flaw is safe from brittle fracture, fatigue, creep, or plastic collapse, under specified loading conditions. You can make use of an engineering critical assessment:
- During design to assist in choosing a welding procedure and/or inspection technique
- During fabrication to assess the significance of known defects that are unacceptable to a given fabrication code or have failed to meet the toughness requirements of a fabrication code
- While the component is in-service, to assess in-service flaws to decide whether the flaw can safely remain or if a repair is necessary