Can dents and gouges compromise the structural integrity of hydrogen transport pipelines?
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Das, Ratul
Bezensek, Bostjan
Martínez-Pañeda, Emilio
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Repurposing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transport requires understanding how external defects, like
dents and gouges, affect structural integrity under H2
exposure. To address this, we combine experiments with
a new hydrogen embrittlement model aimed at large plastic straining scenarios, which integrates: (i) multi
trap hydrogen transport, (ii) finite-strain plasticity, and (iii) a hydrogen- and triaxiality-dependent damage law.
Each constituent of the model is validated with experiments on X65 pipeline steel: (i) hydrogen permeation, (ii) full-scale pipe-indentation, and (iii) mechanical testing at different hydrogen and triaxiality levels. The validated model is used to study passive (indent before H2 exposure) and active (indent with H2) dents and gouges. Results reveal that hydrogen does not significantly increase the damage severity of those defects, unless hydrogen egress is completely precluded at the outer surface of a pipeline that is being pressurised internally and contains a pre-existing passive dent with a gouge.
dents and gouges, affect structural integrity under H2
exposure. To address this, we combine experiments with
a new hydrogen embrittlement model aimed at large plastic straining scenarios, which integrates: (i) multi
trap hydrogen transport, (ii) finite-strain plasticity, and (iii) a hydrogen- and triaxiality-dependent damage law.
Each constituent of the model is validated with experiments on X65 pipeline steel: (i) hydrogen permeation, (ii) full-scale pipe-indentation, and (iii) mechanical testing at different hydrogen and triaxiality levels. The validated model is used to study passive (indent before H2 exposure) and active (indent with H2) dents and gouges. Results reveal that hydrogen does not significantly increase the damage severity of those defects, unless hydrogen egress is completely precluded at the outer surface of a pipeline that is being pressurised internally and contains a pre-existing passive dent with a gouge.
Date Issued
2026-06-29
Date Acceptance
2026-05-26
Citation
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2026, 246
ISSN
0360-3199
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume
246
Copyright Statement
© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
155780
Date Publish Online
2026-06-03