Depth-varying corrosion characteristics and stability bearing capacity of steel pipe piles under aggressive marine environment. (15th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Puyuan; Liu, Changyong; Zhang, Sumei; Wang, Yuyin; Wang, Qinghe
• Is Part Of: Ocean engineering. Volume 266(2022) Part 1
• Publication Date: 2022-12-15
• Subjects: Marine environment -- Steel pipe pile -- Corrosion characteristics -- Depth-varying corrosion -- Stability bearing capacity; Ocean engineering -- Periodicals; Ocean engineering; Periodicals; 620.4162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2022.112649
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0029-8018

Abstract

Abstract: The steel pipe pile (SPP) in the offshore steel trestle commonly suffers severe corrosion damage due to the aggressive marine environment. This paper aims at exploring the depth-varying corrosion characteristics of SPPs and their influence on the stability bearing capacity. To do this, the macro-defects along the elevation of corroded SPPs of an actual project were examined through field investigation. The 3D appearances of corroded steel surfaces along the elevation of SPPs were constructed using the optical digital microscope. It was found that SPPs presented varying corrosion damage along the elevation, and the corrosion damage in the splash zone exhibited the largest. In addition, corrosion loss-exposure time models were used considering depth-varying characteristics. The simplified finite element model of the corroded SPP was established and the parameter analysis was conducted. The stability bearing capacity of SPPs without corrosion, with depth-constant and depth-varying corrosion was compared. The results showed that the stability bearing capacity for SPPs serving for five years and ten years decreased by 24.7% and 37.3%, compared with that for SPPs without corrosion; the specification calculation method without considering depth-varying corrosion overestimated the stability bearing capacity of SPPs, significantly when the corrosion duration exceeds five years. Highlights: The 3D corrosion appearances along the elevation of corroded SPPs were obtained. The prediction models for corrosion rates were proposed considering depth-varying characteristics. Specifications overestimated the stability bearing capacity of corroded SPPs.