An integrative numerical simulation approach for pipeline integrity analysis is presented in this work, combining a corrosion model, which is the main focus of this paper, with a complementary structural nonlinear stress analysis, using the finite element method (FEM). Potential distributions in the trapped water existing beneath pipeline coating disbondments are modeled in conjunction with reaction kinetics on the corroding exposed steel surface using a moving boundary mesh. Temperature dependencies (25 °C and 50 °C) of reaction kinetics do not greatly affect final corrosion defect geometries after 3-yr simulation periods. Conversely, cathodic protection (CP) levels and pH dependencies within the near-neutral pH range (6.7–8.5) strongly govern depth profiles caused by corrosion, reaching a maximum of ∼3 mm into the pipeline wall. A 0.25 V amplification of CP potential combined with a 0.5 mm widening in disbondment opening size reduces defect penetration by almost 30%. Resulting corrosion defect geometries are used for stress examinations and burst pressure evaluations. Furthermore, nonlinear elastic–plastic stress analysis is carried out using shell elements in order to predict the burst pressure of corroded pipes. Corrosion is modeled by reducing the stiffness of a damaged element that has the dimensions of the defect. The predicted burst pressures are in good agreement with those obtained using an experimental-based formula.
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February 2018
Research-Article
Electrochemical Corrosion Finite Element Analysis and Burst Pressure Prediction of Externally Corroded Underground Gas Transmission Pipelines
Ibrahim M. Gadala,
Ibrahim M. Gadala
Department of Materials Engineering,
The University of British Columbia,
309-6350 Stores Road,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
The University of British Columbia,
309-6350 Stores Road,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Magd Abdel Wahab,
Magd Abdel Wahab
Division of Computational Mechanics,
Ton Duc Thang University,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;
Faculty of Civil Engineering,
Ton Duc Thang University,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;
Soete Laboratory,
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture,
Ghent University,
Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 903,
Zwijnaarde B-9052, Belgium
e-mails: magd.abdelwahab@tdt.edu.vn; magd.abdelwahab@ugent.be
Ton Duc Thang University,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;
Faculty of Civil Engineering,
Ton Duc Thang University,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;
Soete Laboratory,
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture,
Ghent University,
Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 903,
Zwijnaarde B-9052, Belgium
e-mails: magd.abdelwahab@tdt.edu.vn; magd.abdelwahab@ugent.be
Search for other works by this author on:
Akram Alfantazi
Akram Alfantazi
Department of Materials Engineering,
The University of British Columbia,
309-6350 Stores Road,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada;
Department of Chemical Engineering,
The Petroleum Institute,
P.O. Box 2533,
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The University of British Columbia,
309-6350 Stores Road,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada;
Department of Chemical Engineering,
The Petroleum Institute,
P.O. Box 2533,
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Search for other works by this author on:
Ibrahim M. Gadala
Department of Materials Engineering,
The University of British Columbia,
309-6350 Stores Road,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
The University of British Columbia,
309-6350 Stores Road,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
Magd Abdel Wahab
Division of Computational Mechanics,
Ton Duc Thang University,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;
Faculty of Civil Engineering,
Ton Duc Thang University,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;
Soete Laboratory,
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture,
Ghent University,
Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 903,
Zwijnaarde B-9052, Belgium
e-mails: magd.abdelwahab@tdt.edu.vn; magd.abdelwahab@ugent.be
Ton Duc Thang University,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;
Faculty of Civil Engineering,
Ton Duc Thang University,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;
Soete Laboratory,
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture,
Ghent University,
Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 903,
Zwijnaarde B-9052, Belgium
e-mails: magd.abdelwahab@tdt.edu.vn; magd.abdelwahab@ugent.be
Akram Alfantazi
Department of Materials Engineering,
The University of British Columbia,
309-6350 Stores Road,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada;
Department of Chemical Engineering,
The Petroleum Institute,
P.O. Box 2533,
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The University of British Columbia,
309-6350 Stores Road,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada;
Department of Chemical Engineering,
The Petroleum Institute,
P.O. Box 2533,
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Pressure Vessel and Piping Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF PRESSURE VESSEL TECHNOLOGY. Manuscript received November 1, 2016; final manuscript received September 18, 2017; published online December 4, 2017. Editor: Young W. Kwon.
J. Pressure Vessel Technol. Feb 2018, 140(1): 011701 (11 pages)
Published Online: December 4, 2017
Article history
Received:
November 1, 2016
Revised:
September 18, 2017
Citation
Gadala, I. M., Abdel Wahab, M., and Alfantazi, A. (December 4, 2017). "Electrochemical Corrosion Finite Element Analysis and Burst Pressure Prediction of Externally Corroded Underground Gas Transmission Pipelines." ASME. J. Pressure Vessel Technol. February 2018; 140(1): 011701. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4038224
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