Shielding Effect of Rubber Disbond on DCVG Signal Magnitude for Coating Defect Detection in Pipes Buried in Soil: A Simulation Analysis

Many pipelines are buried and operated underground in nuclear and chemical plants. Since these pipelines are welded on-site and subsequently coated, ensuring the integrity of these coatings is crucial. Over time, rubber coatings can disbond due to factors such as soil pressure, creating gaps that lead to defects and may expose weld joints to electrolytes locally. Thus, effective detection of coating defects in buried pipelines is crucial for maintaining pipelines’ structural integrity and preventing corrosion. This study examines the shielding effect of rubber disbond on DCVG signal magnitude using the Direct Current Voltage Gradient (DCVG) technique. Simulations conducted with COMSOL Multiphysics®, considering variables such as soil resistivity (1–19 kΩ·cm), defect exposure size (100 cm2 and 1 cm2), detection electrode distance, and applied voltage, show that the DCVG signal generally increases as soil resistivity decreases and as defect size and electrode spacing increase. This is due to a stronger current distribution resulting from the higher applied voltages. However, shielded defects consistently produce lower DCVG signals than unshielded ones, a phenomenon that stems from the insulating shielding layer around the defect, which restricts the flow of the inspection current. These findings highlight how the shielding layer significantly influences the distribution of the inspection current.