Can dents and gouges compromise the structural integrity of hydrogen transport pipelines?
Abstract
Repurposing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transport requires understanding how external defects, like dents and gouges, affect structural integrity under H2 exposure. To address this, we combine experiments with a new hydrogen embrittlement model aimed at large plastic straining scenarios, which integrates: (i) multi-trap hydrogen transport, (ii) finite-strain plasticity, and (iii) a hydrogen- and triaxiality-dependent damage law. Each constituent of the model is validated with experiments on X65 pipeline steel: (i) hydrogen permeation, (ii) full-scale pipe-indentation, and (iii) mechanical testing at different hydrogen and triaxiality levels. The validated model is used to study passive (indent before H2 exposure) and active (indent with H2) dents and gouges. Results reveal that hydrogen does not significantly increase the damage severity of those defects, unless hydrogen egress is completely precluded at the outer surface of a pipeline that is being pressurised internally and contains a pre-existing passive dent with a gouge.
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