X-ray diffraction study of microstructural changes during fatigue damage initiation in steel pipes

Steel pipes used in the oil and gas industry undergo the action of cyclic loads that can cause their failure by fatigue. A consistent evaluation of the fatigue damage during the initiation phase should fundamentally be based on a nanoscale approach, i.e., at the scale of the dislocation network, in order to take into account the micromechanisms of fatigue damage that precede macrocrack initiation and propagation until the final fracture. In this work, microstructural changes related to fatigue damage initiation are investigated in the API 5L X60 grade steel, used in pipe manufacturing. Microdeformations and macro residual stress are evaluated using X-ray diffraction in real time during alternating bending fatigue tests performed on samples cut off from an X60 steel pipe. The aim of this ongoing work is to provide ground for further development of an indicator of fatigue damage initiation in X60 steel. This damage indicator could allow a good residual life prediction of steel pipes previously submitted to fatigue loading, before macroscopic cracking, and help to increase the reliability of these structures.

► In this work we study the fatigue damage evolution in an API 5L X60 steel. ► Microstructural changes and residual stresses are evaluated during fatigue tests. ► Microdeformations and macro residual stresses are estimated by X-ray diffraction. ► Results are discussed in view of an indicator of fatigue damage initiation. ► This indicator could allow the prediction of residual life before macrocracking.