JAMES HARDIE - PIPE TEST CUSHER / Job No: #4500
When James Hardie decided to build a new factory in Florida, USA, to produce Fibre Reinforced Concrete TM Pipes, they appointed Pether and Associates to design a state of the art Pipe Crush Testing System. John Pether subsequently traveled to the James Hardie Plant at Eagle Farm, Brisbane in order to review the existing Pipe Crush Testing system at this facility. John was so impressed with the system that MPA Engineering had developed for this facility four years earlier that he approached MPA to design the software for the Florida Plant. David Poole, MPA’s chief research and development engineer, prepared custom written Visual Basic testing software here in Australia, and then commissioned the software on site at Plant City, Florida.
One of the key additions that David incorporated into the software, at the request of John Pether, was the ability to create computer simulations of various pipe tests. This process involved the creation of simulation (CSV) files with typical values of load and deflection. From this data the software is able to accurately simulate the complete testing process. This capability enabled the testing of all aspects of the software, to ensure correct operations, prior to the installation of the testing machinery.
Other features of the system include:
Ease of Use - The application software developed has a well-designed and intuitive user interface, which is quickly mastered by new 'users'.
Gross Error Checking - This feature checks for incorrect data entry, thereby reducing the likelihood of processing incorrect data into the database. This in turn minimises the effect of human error.
Error Alert - The program will immediately alert the user to potentially incorrect data.
Data Analysis - Once a testing cycle is complete, the program stores the results into a database, which includes the specification requirements for various pipes. The results are then statistically analysed to determine the quality of the manufacturing process.
