What's new

• 6th January 2014

  The FITNET document has been withdrawn from sale. FITNET was used, with the full backing of the FITNET consortium, as one of the main source documents for a new version of BS7910, published in late 2013: http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail?pid=000000000030346068

  Further details can be found in:
  http://www.twi.co.uk/technical-knowledge/published-papers/progress-towards-the-revision-of-bs-7910/

  For any further enquiries, please contact twi@twi.co.uk

• Error monitor and user feedback form updated (Sept 2010)
  
  
• January 2008
  Revision MK8 of the procedure has been published: click here for an outline of Vol I, click here for an outline of Vol II.
  
  
  
  
• The FITNET fitness-for-service thematic network formally finished its work in May 2006, with an international conference on Fitness-for-Service hosted by Shell Global Solutions in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  
  
• The final report to the European Commission is also available (click here - pdf 5,872kB.
  
  
• Training material, developed by the University of Cantabria as part of its contribution to FITNET, can be freely downloaded here - pdf 34,917kB - large single file) or as a series of smaller pdf files.
  
  
• Upcoming volume FITNET Fitness-for-Service (FFS) - Case Studies and Tutorials (ISBN: 978-3-940923-02-8), Editors: M.Kocak (GKSS,D), A. Laukkanen (VTT,FI), F. Solana (Uni. Cantabria, ES), S. Cicero (Uni. Cantabria, ES), I. Hadley (TWI, UK) in preparation.
  
  

What is FITNET?

FITNET is a 4-year European thematic network with the objective of developing and extending the use of fitness-for-service procedures throughout Europe. It is part-funded by the Competitive and Sustainable Growth Programme and forms part of the EU's Framework 5 research programme. Additional funding comes from the participants in the form of in-kind contributions, including information from related EU- and ECSC-funded projects.

Why is FITNET needed?

FITNET involves 41 participants in 16 European countries
click on a flag for a summary in the local language

Flaws (such as cracks, welding defects and corrosion damage) can arise during the manufacture and/or use of metallic components. For safety-critical items such as aircraft, pipelines and pressure vessels, the failure of a single component due to the presence of a flaw can threaten human life, as well as having severe economic and environmental consequences. Other flaws may be harmless, as they will not lead to failure during the lifetime of the component. Replacement and/or repair of such flaws is economically wasteful. A fitness-for-service procedure allows flaws to be evaluated consistently and objectively, using fracture mechanics principles. Although several fitness-for-service procedures already exist (e.g. API579, BS7910, SINTAP, R6), they tend to be aimed at a particular industry sector, or a single failure mode, or are national documents. There is therefore a need for an agreed European procedure, which could ultimately become a European (CEN) standard.

Who is involved?

The network co-ordinator is GKSS in Geesthacht, Germany. Nine other organisations make up the principal contractors leading the working groups and work packages. Principal contractors include representatives of universities, industry and research and technology organisations. The remaining organisations ('members') provide in-kind contributions such as in-house procedures, case studies and industry know-how. Self-funded contributions from other organisations and individuals ('participants') are also welcome.

How is FITNET organised?

The network consists of a matrix of Working Groups and Work Packages, under the leadership of the network co-ordinator. The Working Groups address particular failure modes, such as corrosion, fracture, fatigue and creep. The Work Packages cover all failure modes, and address a particular stage of the network, e.g. review of state of the art, standardisation, dissemination, education.

When does FITNET run?

The network started in February 2002 and will run until the end of May 2006. There will be two public seminars during this period, which will provide feedback on the progress of the project and training for new users. Details of these seminars will be posted here on the project website - www.eurofitnet.org - nearer the time.

Current participants in FITNET

Name	Role in FITNET
GKSS (D)	Co-ordinator
JRC (EU)	Leader, WP2
VTT (FIN)	Leader, WP4
TWI (GB)	Leader, WP5
University of Cantabria (E)	Leader, WP6
CESI (I)	Leader, WP7
Corus (GB/NL)	Leader, WG1
Caterpillar (F)	Leader, WG2
British Energy (GB)	Leader, WG3
Shell (NL/GB)	Leader, WG4
IWT (D)	Member
BZF (H)	Member
CSM (I)	Member
HSE (GB)	Member
ALSTOM Power (GB)	Member
FHG/IWM (D)	Member
University of Maribor (SLO)	Member
SCKCEN (B)	Member
Advantica (GB)	Member
Centro Ricerche Fiat (I)	Member
CEIT (E)	Member
FORCE Technology (DK)	Member
University of Gent (B)	Member
InnospeXion (DK)	Member
Kielce Uni of Technology (PL)	Member
Rolls-Royce (GB)	Member
DNV (S)	Member
University of Darmstadt (D)	Member
IIS (I)	Member
MPA (D)	Member
University of Aveiro (P)	Member
Institut de Soudure (F)	Member
Skoda Vyzkum s.r.o (CZ)	Member
Bureau Veritas (F)	Member
Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt. e.V. (D)	Member
National Physical Laboratory (GB)	Member
CETIM (F)	Member
EMPA (CH)	Member
ICOM-ENAC-EPFL (CH)	Member
Pechiney CRV (F)	Participant
Blendtech Ltd (GB)	Participant
IRSID, USINOR (F)	Participant
Inasmet (E)	Participant
Schweißtechnische Zentralanstalt (OE)	Participant
Amey Vectra Ltd (GB)	Participant
EDF Electricite de France (F)	Participant
Hitachi (J)	Participant
Battelle Columbus (USA)	Participant
BiSAFE (CZ)	Participant
Tecnatom (E)	Participant

Structure of FITNET

WP1. Co-ordination	WG1: Fracture		WG2: Fatigue		WG3: Creep		WG4: Corrosion
WP2. State-of-the-art Review
WP3. Procedure Development
WP4. Case Studies
WP5. Dissemination and IPR
WP6. Training and Education
WP7. Standardisation

Where can I find out more?

Contact the network disseminator, Dr Isabel Hadley (isabel.hadley@twi.co.uk).

modified PDF version of this page (slightly shortened, to allow printing on two sides of A4; file size 40.4kB)

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