Abstract
The existence of corrosion features in energy pipelines can adversely affect the stress/strain state of the pipe body leading to potential integrity concerns. These concerns can be intensified when a corrosion feature is suspected to be interacting with deformations in the pipe geometry. While deterministic models are available for the analysis of corrosion and some types of dent features, there is significant room for research and development in the assessment of interacting features. Additionally, the uncertainties associated with the input variables are often neglected or considered within a limited scope in the analysis methods currently being implemented in the pipeline industry. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and reliability analysis can be integrated through reliability-based stochastic finite element methodologies; however, these methods are typically computationally demanding and not feasible for frequent integrity analysis. This study demonstrates the application of Reliability-Based Surrogate Models as a means of integrating FEA and reliability analysis in a more reasonable timeframe for integrity programs. The proposed approach was applied to case studies of corrosion features interacting with dent features to evaluate the probability of failure of the pipe section modelled.
