Structural Integrity Evaluation for the Analysis of Corroded Pipelines With Multiple Corrosion Defects

The structural integrity evaluation of corroded pipelines is very important for the management of systems that are in operation in order to help managers in the important decision of repairing the line. The required models for the analysis of corroded pipelines with multiple corrosion defects are in many cases a hard task to be generated. This paper presents a new methodology for the generation of full 3D hex meshes for the analysis using the Finite Element Method. The algorithm, developed specifically for the analysis of corroded pipelines, makes the task of model generation with multiple corrosion defects easier and faster. Examples with one and two corrosion defects are presented using a linear-elastic material model and the corresponding results compared to the criteria established by ASME code sec. VIII div. 2. The same models are analyzed using ideal elastic-plastic material model in order to determine the minimum failure pressure for the corroded pipes. The numerical failure pressures obtained are also compared to the values obtained from DNV RP-F101 method for single defects and experimental results. Finally, a new repairing methodology that allows the continuous operation of the pipeline in a safer way is presented. This methodology can help managers in the undertaking of scheduling a full repair of the pipeline in a much more flexible way.