Buckle propagation in pipelines with non-uniform thickness

Finite element solutions for the steady-state buckle propagation pressure i n a pipeline with non-uniform thickness are given. The results are useful i n finding buckle propagation pressures in corroded pipelines. It has been f ound that when corrosion is equal to or less than 10% of the original pipel ine thickness, the pipeline collapses in an overall shell buckling mode; ot herwise. the pipeline experiences local buckling. The propagation pressure decreases with both the thickness and angular extent of the reduced section , but the rate of decrease with thickness reduction is almost independent o f the angular extent of corrosion when it is greater than 90 degrees. (C) 2 001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.