Coupled Electro-Chemical-Soil Model to Evaluate the Influence of Soil Aeration on Underground Metal Pipe Corrosion
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Ravin N. Deo; R.M. Azoor; Jayantha Kodikara; Nick Birbilis
- Source
- Corrosion. 74:1177-1191
- Subject
- Soil model
Petroleum engineering
020209 energy
General Chemical Engineering
Pipeline (computing)
02 engineering and technology
General Chemistry
021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology
Finite element method
Corrosion
Metal
visual_art
Scientific method
0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering
visual_art.visual_art_medium
Environmental science
General Materials Science
Aeration
0210 nano-technology
Water content
- Language
- ISSN
- 1938-159X
0010-9312
A mechanistic understanding of the process of underground corrosion is important for modeling pipeline deterioration. In this study, a time-dependent multiscale numerical model incorporating electrochemistry and soil hydrology is developed. The model realistically simulates soil moisture and aeration conditions and their influence on anodic/cathodic activity without prior definition. In this manner, both micro- and macrocell corrosion and their evolution with time are simulated along with the effects of differential aeration. The model was validated with low-alloy cast iron corrosion data from the United States National Bureau of Standards corrosion exposure study. The effect of soil aeration in controlling soil corrosiveness was simulated with suitable boundary conditions. It was demonstrated that macrocells arising due to differential aeration can lead to elevated levels of corrosion in pipelines, especially in fairly aerated soils.