Corrosion rate measurement for steel sheets of a fuel tank shell being in service

Abstract

Some corrosion progress trends specific for cylindrical steel shells of typical above-ground fuel tanks are first identified experimentally and then quantitatively compared with one another. The inference is based on many random thickness measurements related to the selected corrosively weakened coating sheets and carried out at various moments of the tanks in question service time. It is shown in detail that in this type of structures, due to the manner of their use and, particularly, the material stored inside, the corrosion process is in general significantly accelerated over time. For this reason, a nonlinear formal model describing the simulated corrosion development anticipated for the future fuel tank service time seems to be the best choice in forecasting its remaining time to failure.

Keywords

• fuel tank
• steel tank shell
• corrosion rate
• durability prediction
• in situ measurements
• trend of corrosion progress