The remaining strength of corroded pipe is an important consideration in the operation and maintenance of high-pressure cross-county pipelines. In that pipeline replacement is extremely costly, pipeline operators need to avoid replacing pipe that, though corroded, is still fit for service. For over 20 years, the pipeline industry has relied upon a simple, reliable semi-empirical equation for predicting the remaining pressure-carrying capacity of corroded pipe. This equation is embodied in an industry-accepted standard, the ASME B31G Guidelines. The basis for the guidelines is found in past research...
The remaining strength of corroded pipe is an important consideration in the operation and maintenance of high-pressure cross-county pipelines. In that pipeline replacement is extremely costly, pipeline operators need to avoid replacing pipe that, though corroded, is still fit for service. For over 20 years, the pipeline industry has relied upon a simple, reliable semi-empirical equation for predicting the remaining pressure-carrying capacity of corroded pipe. This equation is embodied in an industry-accepted standard, the ASME B31G Guidelines. The basis for the guidelines is found in past research sponsored by the Pipeline Research Council International, Inc.(PRCI). The final acceptance of the B31G criterion by the industry was based largely on the results of 47 burst tests of corroded pipe. More recently, another PRCI sponsored study has resulted in an enhanced version of the basic B31G equation and the addition of 39 additional burst-test results. The growing use of the B31G criterion and the confidence engendered by the burst-test results has led to the generation of an enhanced database described in this document. The database contains 124 results of tests on corroded pipe or pipe containing corrosion-simulating defects. The purpose of the database is to provide additional test data on the behavior of corroded pipe. These data will enable researchers and pipeline operators to confirm the margin of safety in the B31G criterion and to continue in their efforts to develop more general theories to describe the failure behavior of corroded pipe. This report provides additional test data on the behavior of corroded pipe and enables researchers and pipeline operators to confirm the margin of safety in the B31G criterion to determine remaining strength of corroded pipe, and to develop more general theories to describe the failure behavior of corroded pipe. A description of how to perform a corroded pipe burst test is presented for those who wish to generate additional data.