Pipeline corrosion assessment using piezo-sensors in reusable non-bonded configuration

Pipeline corrosion assessment using piezo-sensors in reusable non-bonded configuration

Accelerated corrosion

Condition assessment

Electro-mechanical impedance technique

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) patch

Pipelines

In this paper, a piezoelectric sensor is used in its non-bonded configuration for non-destructive evaluation of a pipeline segment subjected to progressive corrosion damage. A new non-bonded sensor configuration, specially adapted for small diameter pipelines, known as modified non-bonded sensor (MNS), is proposed and evaluated. The new sensor configuration is evaluated for sensitivity in monitoring corrosion induced damage in pipeline segments in controlled laboratory setup through accelerated corrosion tests. The conventional surface-bonded piezo-sensor (SBPS) configuration is used as standard for comparison. Signature analysis using different methods is carried out in the study. Using the principles of the electro-mechanical impedance (EMI) technique, equivalent stiffness, damping and mass parameters are computed from the admittance signatures of both the configurations (MNS & SBPS) and compared. Experimental results show that piezo based a non-dimensional mass parameter from the MNS measurements are very effective in damage detection and quantification. The results are correlated with actual mass loss measurements and consequent corrosion rates are calibrated. The results clearly make case for practical usage of MNS configuration in corrosion detection and health monitoring of pipeline systems. The new MNS configuration proves to be a successful alternative to the conventional bonded piezo configuration.

102220

111

Raju, Jayalakshmi

Bhalla, Suresh

Visalakshi, Talakokula

NDT & E International

2020

journalArticle

0963-8695

10.1016/j.ndteint.2020.102220