Remaining Strength in Pressure Vessels With Pitting Type Metal Loss: Part 1

Abstract

This work proposes an assessment procedure for the determination of the remaining strength in pressure vessels with pitting type metal loss, trough the developed of integrity diagrams according to the pitting density, pitting depths and the internal pressure of the component using Finite Element Analysis simulations. The simulations results indicate that the pitting density and depths according to the Gumbel Max Distribution, are the main factors that determine the mechanical integrity of the component; where 45% damaged area by pitting generates a stress concentration that multiplies at least ten times the stress compared with components without defects, since these variables present a synergistic behavior in the stress state. The proposed assessment procedure facilitates the evaluation of the components that present pitting corrosion damage, due to the geometric and population effect of the pitting is considered in the finite element simulation.