A review of the fatigue failure mechanism of metallic materials under a corroded environment

• Corrosion and fatigue leads to lowering the integrity of pipeline steels.
• Various methods and empirical models were used for corrosion cracking assessment.
• Probabilistic and statistical based assessment offer a reliable result.
• Thereby, a good prediction will minimise unwanted damages.

Assessment of the fatigue strength of pipeline steels is essential considering that the components are subjected to cycle loads in service. This paper presents a fatigue life assessment review of failure pipeline steels. Failure or deterioration of pipelines takes place by corrosion and fatigue, which later leads to rupture. Stress-life, strain-life, and linear elastic fracture mechanics crack propagation method has shown to be well accepted as a benchmark model of fatigue assessment. The relation curves are based on different cases of individual characterised fatigue properties. Other methods like probability and statistical-based assessment are employed to provide reliable results in the assessment of fatigue strength. This method deals with scatter data resulting from variations in sample parameters. It shows that choosing an appropriate and accurate method is important; particularly for quantifying the extent to which the fatigue life is reduced. Good predictions subsequently offer successful designs of pipelines and therefore, any unwanted damage can then be avoided.