Finite element analyses of burst capacities of corroded pipelines containing pinhole-in-corrosion defects

This study carries out extensive parametric three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element analysis to evaluate the burst capacity of oil and gas pipelines containing pinhole-in-corrosion (PIC) defects. The analysis results reveal that the burst capacity of the PIC defect is insensitive to the pinhole diameter but largely affected by the depth of the pinhole and length of the general corrosion. A pinhole located at the centre of the general corrosion is found to have a larger impact on the burst capacity than the same pinhole located near the edge of the general corrosion. The observed size and location effects on the burst capacity are attributed to the bulging deformation of a corroded pipeline under internal pressure. The findings of this study provide the basis for developing a practical, accurate engineering burst capacity model for PIC defects.