Revisiting ASME Strain-Based Dent Evaluation Criterion

Oil and gas transmission pipelines can be subjected to concentrated lateral loads and as a result, a dent can form. A dent is a localized defect in the pipe wall in the form of a permanent inward plastic deformation. This kind of defect is a matter of serious concern for the pipeline operator since a rupture or a leak may occur. Dent may not pose an immediate threat to the structural integrity of a pipeline. However, it can possibly hinder the operational and inline inspection activities. In the long run, it can cause a leak or rupture in the pipeline under sustained or cyclic pressure load. Hence, AMSE B31.8 recommends a strain-based criterion for the assessment of dents. This strain-based criterion was developed based on several assumptions. This study was undertaken using full-scale laboratory tests and finite element analyses to review and revisit the ASME strain-based dent evaluation criterion and its assumptions. It was found that some of these assumptions are incorrect, and hence, this dent evaluation criterion can lead to inaccurate estimations of critical (effective) strain values in dents, which in turn can lead to inaccurate assessments of the dents.