Reliability analysis of gas pipeline with corrosion defect based on finite element method

• Published in: International journal of structural integrity Vol. 12; no. 6; pp. 854 - 863
• Main Authors: Yang, Yuan-Jian, Wang, Guihua, Zhong, Qiuyang, Zhang, Huan, He, Junjie, Chen, Haijun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bingley Emerald Publishing Limited 10.11.2021; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Boundary conditions; Corrosion; Corrosion rate; Criteria; Defects; Failure; Failure analysis; Finite element analysis; Finite element method; Gas pipelines; Internal pressure; Mathematical analysis; Monte Carlo simulation; Natural gas; Numerical analysis; Numerical methods; Reliability analysis; Reliability engineering; Residual strength; Service life; Stress concentration; Yield stress; Finite element analysis; Residual life; Reliability; Corroded pipeline
• ISSN: 1757-9864; 1757-9872
• DOI: 10.1108/IJSI-11-2020-0112

PurposeGas pipelines are facing serious risk because of the factors such as long service life, complex working condition and most importantly, corrosion. As one of the main failure reasons of gas pipeline, corrosion poses a great threat to its stable operation. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the reliability of gas pipelines with corrosion defect. This paper uses the corresponding methods to predict the residual strength and residual life of pipelines.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, ASME-B31G revised criteria and finite element numerical analysis software are used to analyze the reliability of a special dangerous section of a gas gathering pipeline, and the failure pressure and stress concentration of the pipeline under three failure criteria are obtained. Furthermore, combined with the predicted corrosion rate of the pipeline, the residual service life of the pipeline is calculated.FindingsThis paper verifies the feasibility of ASME-B31G revised criteria and finite element numerical analysis methods for reliability analysis of gas pipelines with corrosion defect. According to the calculation results, the maximum safe internal pressure of the pipeline is 9.53 Mpa, and the residual life of the pipeline under the current operating pressure is 38.41 years, meeting the requirements of safe and reliable operation.Originality/valueThe analysis methods and analysis results provide reference basis for the reliability analysis of corroded pipelines, which is of great practical engineering value for the safe and stable operation of natural gas pipelines.