Simulation of hydrogen diffusion in welded joint of X80 pipeline steel

Abstract

Hydrogen diffusion coefficients of different regions in the welded joint of X80 pipeline steel were measured using the electro-chemical permeation technique. Using ABAQUS software, hydrogen diffusion in X80 pipeline steel welded joint was studied in consideration of the inhomogeneity of the welding zone, and temperature-dependent thermo-physical and mechanical properties of the metals. A three dimensional finite element model was developed and a coupled thermo-mechanical-diffusion analysis was performed. Hydrogen concentration distribution across the welded joint was obtained. It is found that the postweld residual hydrogen exhibits a non-uniform distribution across the welded joint. A maximum equivalent stress occurs in the immediate vicinity of the weld metal. The heat affected zone has the highest hydrogen concentration level, followed by the weld zone and the base metal. Simulation results are well consistent with theoretical analysis.

Keywords

numerical simulation / hydrogen diffusion / temperature field / stress field

References

[1] AlbarranJ L, AguilarA, MartinezL, LopezH F. Corrosion and cracking behavior in an API X-80 steel exposed to sour gas environment [J]. Corrosion, 2002, 58(9): 783-792

[2] BatisseR, SuezG. Investigation of X80-steel grade for hydrogen gas transmission pipelines [C]. International Gas Union Research Conference, 2008, Paris, France, Currans Associates, Inc.: 1572-1588

[3] GoldakJ A, AkhlaghiMComputational welding mechanics [M], 2005, New York, Springer Science and Business Media, Inc.: 199-203

[4] LiY-j, WangJ, ShenX-qin. FEM calculation and effect of diffusion hydrogen distribution in the fusion zone of super-high strength steel [J]. Computational Materials Science, 2004, 31(1/2): 57-66

[5] DandrieuxA, DimbourJ P, DusserreG A. Are dispersion models suitable for simulating small gaseous chlorine releases? [J]. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 2006, 19(6): 683-689

[6] LiuY-l, ZhengJ-y, XuP, ZhaoY-z, BieH-y, ChenH-g, HustonD. Numerical simulation on the diffusion of hydrogen due to high pressured storage tanks failure [J]. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 2009, 22(3): 265-270

[7] FrappartS, FeaugasX, CreusJ, ThebaultF, DelattreL, MarcheboisH. Hydrogen solubility, diffusivity and trapping in a tempered Fe-C-Cr martensitic steel under various mechanical stress states [J]. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2012, 534: 384-393

[8] FallahmohammadiE, BolzoniF, LazzariL. Measurement of lattice and apparent diffusion coefficient of hydrogen in X65 and F22 pipeline steels [J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2013, 38(5): 2531-2543

[9] HanY D, JingH Y, XuL Y. Welding heat input effect on the hydrogen permeation in the X80 steel welded joints [J]. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 2012, 132(1): 216-222

[10] LeblondJ B, DuboisD. A general mathematical description of hydrogen diffusion in steels-II. Numerical study of permeation and determination of trapping parameters [J]. Acta Metall, 1983, 31(10): 1471-1478

[11] KromA H M, KoersR W J, BakkerA. Hydrogen transport near a blunting crack tip [J]. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 1999, 47(4): 971-992

[12] TakayamaK, MatsumotoR, TaketomiS, MiyazakiN. Hydrogen diffusion analyses of a cracked steel pipe under internal pressure [J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2011, 36(1): 1037-1045

[13] ClaudioV D L, LallitA. Hydrogen in metals: A coupled theory species diffusion and large elastic-plastic deformations [J]. International Journal of Plasticity, 2013, 43: 42-69

[14] ParkG T, KohS U, JungH G, KimK Y. Effect of microstructure on the hydrogen trapping efficiency and hydrogen induced cracking of linepipe steel [J]. Corrosion Science, 2008, 50(7): 1865-1871

[15] BeidokhtiB, DolatiA, KoukabiA H. Effects of alloying elements and microstructure on the susceptibility of the welded HSLA steel to hydrogen-induced cracking and sulfide stress cracking [J]. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2009, 507(1/2): 167-173

[16] ArafinM A, SzpunarJ A. Effect of bainitic microstructure on the susceptibility of pipeline steels to hydrogen induced cracking [J]. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2011, 528(15): 4927-4940

[17] XueH B, ChengY F. Photo-electrochemical studies of the local dissolution of a hydrogen-charged X80 steel at crack-tip in a near-neutral pH solution [J]. Electrochimica Acta, 2010, 55(20): 5670-5676

[18] MoroaI, BriottetL, LemoineP, AndrieuE, BlancC, OdemerG. Hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of a high strength steel X80 [J]. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2010, 527(27/28): 7252-7260

[19] LiH-y, LinW, BinJ, WeiD-d, ZengC-ting. Continuous cooling transformation of undercooling austenite for low-carbon microalloyed pipeline steel [J]. Journal of Central South University: Science and Technology, 2010, 41(3): 923-929

[20] BriottetL, BatisseR, De DinechinG, LangloisP, ThiersL. Recommendations on X80 steel for the design of hydrogen gas transmission pipelines [J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2012, 37(11): 9423-9430