Changes in Mechanical Properties of Metallic Pipes Subjected to Accelerated Corrosion Test

Abstract

One of the most significant current discussions in fluid transport industry is how to prolong the service life of a metallic pipeline system under severe physical and chemical conditions. Electrochemical corrosion is a persistent problem, causing material degradation and sometimes resulting in serious consequences. Here more than 150 three-point bending tests were done on 82 corroded carbon steel pipes to examine their remaining strength. The current work proposes an artificial protocol to accelerate the electrochemical corrosion of ferrous tubes in a controllable system and analyzed correlations between removed iron mass, the depth of corroded sites, and the deterioration in the mechanical properties of the sample pipes. Based on these correlations, a rough estimate for the retirement life of pipelines is put forward as a referable option.