Failure Analysis and Evaluation of Metallic Materials
A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Metal Failure Analysis".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025
Special Issue Editors
Interests: integrity evaluation; failure analysis; detection and monitoring; steel pipes
Interests: structural integrity assessment; corroded pipeline; submarine pipeline; residual strength; burst pressure
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Integrity assessment of steel pipelines serves as a critical component in ensuring the safe operation of energy transportation systems. With the increasing global energy demand and the large-scale application of emerging energy carriers such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide (CO2), and liquefied natural gas (LNG), steel pipelines are subjected to complex multi-physical loads, including high pressure, corrosion, low-temperature conditions, and hydrogen embrittlement. Structural failures in these systems may lead to catastrophic accidents, resulting in casualties, environmental pollution, and significant economic losses. Through systematic integrity evaluations, potential risks—such as material defects, dent deformations, corrosion damage, and welding weak zones—can be accurately identified. By integrating online monitoring, non-destructive testing (NDT), and numerical simulation technologies, dynamic risk prevention and control throughout the entire lifecycle can be achieved. This preventive maintenance strategy extends equipment service life, reduces operational costs, and provides technical support for safe and sustainable development amid the global energy transition.
In recent years, research hotspots in the field of steel pipeline integrity assessment have focused on intelligentization, multi-scale collaboration, and adaptability to extreme environments. Key research directions include the following:
- Digitalization and AI-driven technologies: Advanced applications of machine learning and IoT for real-time structural health monitoring and predictive maintenance.
- Hydrogen–environment material compatibility: Investigating hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms and developing hydrogen-resistant alloys for steel pipelines and tanks.
- Reliability enhancement in deep-sea and subsurface systems: Optimizing structural designs for pipelines under high-pressure, low-temperature, and corrosive deep-sea conditions.
Fracture control in supercritical CO2 pipe steels: Addressing phase transition-induced crack propagation and microbial corrosion prevention strategies.
This Special Issue aims to compile the latest global research advancements in the integrity assessment of steel pipelines and storage tanks, focusing on the following themes: risk assessment technologies for pipelines and storage tanks;integrity evaluation methods for emerging energy pipelines (LNG, H2, natural gas, and CO2) and associated storage systems; and inspection and monitoring technologies for pipeline and tank integrity.
Specific research topics include, but are not limited to, the following: defect assessment techniques for pipe steels; integrity evaluation methodologies for girth welds; fracture assessment approaches in pipeline engineering; statistical analysis and pattern recognition of failure incidents; novel technologies for detecting steel pipeline defects and stress monitoring; and data-driven innovative pathways for integrity management.
We look forward to your submissions.
Dr. Yi Shuai
Dr. Zhanfeng Chen
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- integrity evaluation
- steel pipes
- failure analysis
- detection and monitoring
- safety evaluation
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