Failure Pressure Assessment of Subsea Pipelines with Multiple Corrosion Defects under Combined Loadings

Abstract

Subsea pipelines operate in harsh marine environments, and corrosion is the major cause threatening their operational safety. In this paper, the failure pressure of pipelines with multiple corrosion defects under combined loadings is investigated. A finite-element model of a pipeline with multiple corrosion defects is developed, and this model is verified with experiments. The effect of defect depth, axial, and circumferential spacings between corrosion defects on the pipeline’s residual strength is estimated. Furthermore, the failure pressure of a pipeline with multiple corrosion defects under combined loadings, such as internal pressure, axial pressure, and bending moment, is examined. This study aims to support the integrity management of subsea pipelines with multiple corrosion defects.