Nondestructive testing technology of the in-service atmospheric storage tanks

The main damage mechanisms and the failure modes of vertical atmospheric welding steel storage tank were introduced in this paper. The characteristics of some nondestructive testing methods applied on inspection of the tanks in recent years were overviewed. The proposition and procedure to use the combination of general available nondestructive testing methods in inspection of storage tanks in service was given based on the failure modes, as well as, the future development direction in the field was predicted.