Failure Analysis of a Ruptured Pipeline

This work aimed to investigate the direct cause of a pipeline rupture that occurred in 2013 in Western Nebraska. Visual inspection, non-destructive laser scanning, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray, mechanical testing, and chemical analysis were conducted during metallurgical examination. The results indicate that the rupture was caused by progressive cracking due to hydrogen stress cracking that occurred at a “hard spot” in the subject 1954 AO Smith pipe.