Application of PyAnsys for Level 3 Assessment Tool Development

Abstract Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a prevalent tool for the integrity assessment of pipelines in the industry and is widely acknowledged by industrial standards such as CSA Z662 and CFR 192.712. Previous research has established the capability of FEA to accurately simulate the response of pipelines under various loading scenarios, demonstrating high fidelity in processes like dent simulation and predicting the failure of corroded pipelines. The Finite Element method is a complex numerical technique that involves discretizing a continuous pipeline into small finite elements. While the accessibility of commercial FEA software tools has facilitated the application of this method, challenges and potential issues persist. Firstly, FEA simulations generate substantial amounts of data, including nodal solutions and stiffness matrices. Secondly, debugging can be intricate, necessitating a combination of experience and specialized knowledge. Thirdly, postprocessing can be time-consuming; for instance, calculating the Ductile Failure Damage Indicator (DFDI) involves integrating stress components across all time steps. Lastly, commercial FEA software typically operates as closed source, limiting customization options to the features provided by the software. This paper introduces the use of a Python-based FEA library, PyAnsys, offering a more accessible and streamlined approach to managing the extensive data generated by FEA simulations. The integration of PyAnsys with Python enhances the debugging process by providing an intuitive and user-friendly scripting interface. Python’s readability and extensive debugging tools contribute to a smoother debugging experience, reducing the dependency on specialized knowledge. Additionally, PyAnsys facilitates efficient pre-processing and post-processing by leveraging the power of Python. The open-source nature of PyAnsys enhances customization options, allowing integration with other Python libraries, such as the visualization package PyVista, making PyAnsys a versatile and powerful tool for FEA applications. Two case studies are presented in the paper to demonstrate the effectiveness of PyAnsys. The first case study utilizes PyAnsys to analyze a dented pipe in structural analysis, while the second case study involves study simulating a corroded pipeline to evaluate the load carrying capacity of a pipeline containing metal loss corrosions.