Modelling of Fluid Dynamics Interacting With Ductile Fraction Propagation in High Pressure Pipeline

This paper presents a computational model for describing the behavior of the fluid dynamics in a fractured ductile pipe under high pressure. The pressure profile in front of the crack tip, which is the main source of the crack driving source, is computed by using nonlinear wave equation. The solution is coupled with one dimensional gas flow analysis behind the crack, choked flow. The simulation utilizes a high order optimized prefactored compact–finite volume method for space discretization, and low dispersion and dissipation Runge-Kutta for time discretization. As the pipe fractures the rapid depressurization take place inside the pipe and the propagation of the crack induce waves which strongly influence the nature of the outflow dynamics. Consistent with the experimental observation, the model predicts the expansion wave inside the pipe, and the reflection and outflow of the wave. The model also helps characterize the propagation of the crack dynamics and fluid flows around the tip of the crack.