Enhancing Knowledge and Technology to Prevent and Mitigate Risks of Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) for Pipeline Integrity Management

This project aims to enhance pipeline safety by addressing the critical issue of stress corrosion cracking (SCC). The project will delve into the understanding of SCC by investigating the effects of various causal factors on its initiation and growth. Additionally, the project will develop and test an innovative monitoring technique to detect SCC at multiple scales, from micro- to macro-level. By combining experimental and computational approaches, the project will provide valuable insights into SCC mechanisms and inform the development of effective mitigation strategies. Ultimately, the project will contribute to the improvement of pipeline safety by providing recommendations for preventive measures, repair criteria, and operating parameters, and by training the next generation of pipeline engineers.

Anticipated Results: The research team anticipates five main results/outputs from this project. First, the effects of multiple causal factors on the initiation and growth of pipeline stress corrosion cracking (SCC) will be quantified, and the underlying mechanisms will be revealed through experiments and multi-physics simulations. Second, an innovative monitoring technique will be developed to achieve multi-scale monitoring of pipeline SCC, and its performance will be evaluated experimentally. Third, a coupled multi-physics simulation approach will be developed to model pipeline SCC, validated with experimental data, and used to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of causal factors and to guide the improvement of the monitoring technique. Fourth, recommendations to enhance preventive measures, repair criteria, and safe operating parameters for at-risk pipeline segments will be provided to improve pipeline safety. Finally, multiple undergraduate and graduate students will be trained through the research activities.

Potential Impact on Safety: This research project will benefit pipeline safety in four primary ways. First, the knowledge basis for pipeline stress corrosion cracking (SCC) will be advanced, enabling pipeline engineers to understand how different causal factors affect the initiation and growth of SCC. Second, the advancement of pipeline SCC monitoring techniques will provide effective tools for identifying risks at an early stage. Third, the development of the coupled multi-physics simulation approach will facilitate pipeline engineers in predicting the initiation and growth of SCC. Fourth, recommendations to enhance preventive measures, repair criteria, and safe operating parameters for at-risk pipeline segments will be provided to improve pipeline safety. Additionally, standardization efforts will be made with consultants and the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) to incorporate new specifications into industry best practices and regulatory frameworks. Finally, the training of undergraduate and graduate students will develop the future workforce for improving pipeline safety.