News & Views, Volume 51 | Selective Seam Weld Corrosion
ENGINEERING CRITICAL ASSESSMENT
By: Pete Riccardella, Scott Riccardella and Chris Tipple
The Structural Integrity Associates, Inc. Oil and Gas Pipeline group recently supported an Engineering Critical Assessment to assist a pipeline operator manage the Selective Seam Weld Corrosion (SSWC) threat to an operating pipeline. SSWC occurs when the fusion zone of a certain type of seam weld used in vintage (pre-1970) transmission pipelines experiences accelerated galvanic corrosion relative to the pipe body material. It has led to numerous pipeline failures because the weld fusion zone often exhibits low fracture toughness. The ECA included several technical advancements in applying fracture mechanics to this threat.
