MATEC Web of Conferences, open access proceedings in Materials science, Engineering and Chemistry

Purpose is to study safe life of industrial (metal) structures under long-time operation in the corrosive-active media of oil and gas wells with the help of neural network analysis. Methods. The MATLAB system (MATrix LABoratory) was selected as the tool environment for interface modelling; the system is developed by Math Works Inc. and is a high-level programming language for technical computations. Of the three existing learning paradigms, we used the “with teacher” learning process, as we believed that a neural network had correct answers (network outputs) for each input example. The coefficients were adjusted so that the network gave answers being as close as possible to the known correct answers. Findings. An artificial neural network has helped obtain a generalized diagram of the expected areas of high viscoplastic characteristics of carbon steels used to manufacture metal structures in the oil and gas industry. While applying the trained neural networks, generalized dependences of the corrosion rates of structural steels on the parameters of media with different concentrations of chlorine ions, sulphate ions, hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide, and oxygen ions were obtained; they were the basis to predict corrosion behaviour of steels. Originality. For the first time, the possibility of applying neural network modelling to predict local corrosion damage of structural pipe steels has been shown in terms of the “steel 20 – oxygen and chloride-containing medium” system. For the first time, the technological possibility has been demonstrated to use neural network analysis for engineering predictive assessment of corrosion activity of binary systems of simulated solutions, which are most often found under industrial conditions of the oil and gas sector of the economy. Practical implications. The proposed technology of using the neural network analysis will make it possible to expand a range of predicted values beyond experimental data, i.e. to predict the value of Vcor in very dilute or concentrated salt solutions within the acidified and neutral pH ranges. It should be noted that the error of the prediction results shown by the neural network will increase along with distancing from the scope of experimental data.

It is established that at the moment of the onset of the boundary equilibrium of the base under a central loaded plate, an elastic core is formed in the form of a cone, all particles move along with the plate progressively down. In this case, within the limits of the “area of influence” the boundary condition of the base is violated by protrusion or consolidation of soils. The volume of the “area of influence” is determined by the height of the elastic core, from which its diameter is calculated. Experiments using conical tips were made and the height of the elastic core was determined and the diameter of the “area of influence” was determined. For creation at penetration and probing friction of soil on a ground the conic tip is executed rough with cylindrical stages. Under the steps of the tip, formed areas of compacted soil, moving along with it, creating a so-called “ground shirt” in the form of a cone with a creature at an angle α to the vertical. The obtained data allowed specifying coefficients of bearing capacity of soils, which are used in construction norms.

Purpose is to perform analysis of corrosion durability (fatigue) of pump rod materials in terms of various chemically active simulation environments, and study influence of economically modified rare-earth impurity on corrosion fatigue strength of pump rod materials. Methods. 40 and 20N2M steel grades have been applied as well as experimental steel (ES). Steel of the conditinal ES grade has been melted within a pilot site of Institute of Electric Welding Named after E.O. Paton of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The steel was alloyed economically by means of a micro impurity of a rare-earth element (REE) being 0.03% of cerium; in addition, it contained comparatively low concentration of sulfur and phosphorus as well as minor concentration of dissolved hydrogen. The following has been used as simulation environments: 1) NACE environment (i.e. 5% NaCl solution which contained 0.5% СН3СООН, and saturated H2S; t = 22 ± 2°C; pH = 3.8-4.0); 2) 3% NaCl solution without hydrogen sulphide. Once every day, the environment was replaced to oxygenate it up to 8-10 mg/l concentration. Findings. Stability against sulfide stress-corrosion cracking (SSCC), hydrogen initiated cracking (HIC), and corrosion fatigue of steel of deep pump rods for oil industry has been studied. It has been defined that the experimental steel, modified economically by means of micro impurities of a REE, meets NACE MR0175-96 standard in terms of chemical composition as well as strength; in turn, 20N2M and 40 steel grades have high resistance neither to SSCC (threshold stresses are < 0.8 s) nor to corrosion fatigue attack; moreover, steel grade 40 has demonstrated low resistance to HIC (CLR > 6% and CTR > 3%). Originality. It has been identified that corrosion fatigue attack results from hydrogen penetration of steel initiating its cracking and hence destruction under the effect of alternating loads accelerated by the action of corrosive environment. Further, surface micro destructions, influenced by micro stresses, transform into large discontinuities and cracks with following macro destructions. Practical implications. It has been proved that high resistance to corrosion cracking can be achieved by means of refining of pump-rod steel of ferrite and perlite type using metallurgical methods, i.e. 0.01-0.03% REE microalloying.

A survey and assessment of the technical condition of basement and semi-basement structures in public buildings aged 60 to 130 years were conducted to evaluate their suitability for use as basic shelters. Based on the survey results, the most adverse impacts were identified, including changes in groundwater levels, improper building operation, and the characteristic damages to underground structural elements. Structural solutions were proposed to eliminate the consequences of these damages. The reviewed cases indicate that the vertical and horizontal waterproofing systems used during construction cannot perform their function throughout the building’s entire life cycle. When designing new buildings, waterproof materials should be used for the enclosing structures of underground premises. While this may have a higher initial cost than membrane or coating waterproofing, considering life-cycle costs, it can provide a positive economic effect and improve the quality and comfort of the indoor environment.