Methodology Development for Designing NDT Cells for Offshore Nodes Using Virtual Commissioning Tools and Ergonomic Analysis

This article presents the methodology development for designing non-destructive testing (NDT) cells for offshore nodes using Virtual Commissioning tools, which includes ergonomic analysis of the measurement process performed by an operator. This process is based on the manipulation of a probe that is part of a disruptive NDT system in the sector, which includes a tooling for perfect coupling despite constant bevel changes. Since proper handling of the system is crucial, it is essential for the design to consider the operator's ergonomics. This is achieved by developing a modular design methodology based on the integration of a Virtual Commissioning tool that will allow defining the rotation angles of the node supported by a manipulator, minimizing the operator’s musculoskeletal risk. With this design tool, it will be possible to accurately calculate the cycle time of the entire process, including the operator, to serve as input to a Digital Twin (DT) of the offshore node manufacturing line and verify the cycle time extracted from the Bill of Process provided by the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system.