A failure in the liquefied methanol loading arm caused the spherical joint to rupture after an abrupt valve closure. The resulting water hammer generated an overpressure that exceeded the component's strength. This incident, which occurred at a port terminal, required a detailed analysis using 3D scanning tools and simulation to identify the exact causes of the structural collapse.
3D Reconstruction and Simulation with Cyclone and Abaqus 🛠️
The technical team used Leica Cyclone to capture the precise geometry of the loading arm and the damaged joint. With this data, a finite element model was generated in Abaqus. The simulation reproduced the hydraulic transient of the valve closure, calculating pressure peaks of 18 bar. The results showed that the spherical joint, designed for 12 bar, failed due to cyclic fatigue induced by repeated pressure pulses in previous operations.
The closure nobody asked for and the joint that said enough 💥
Someone in the control room decided to close the valve in 0.2 seconds, as if turning off the light in their kitchen. The methanol, which doesn't understand haste, said: okay, I'm leaving but in style. The result was a spherical joint that decided to retire with a bang, showering the terminal with an aroma that no industrial air freshener can match. Good thing insurance covers these bursts of operational enthusiasm.