Associations of Creep Behavior Models and Resource Recovery with Serviceability Limits in High Temperature Pipelines

Abstract

The operational integrity and life cycle management of high-temperature pipelines represent critical challenges in modern power generation and petrochemical industries. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of serviceability limits by integrating advanced creep behavior models with emerging paradigms of resource recovery. High-temperature components are subjected to severe thermomechanical loading, leading to time-dependent permanent deformation, microstructural degradation, and eventual failure. Traditional serviceability assessments often evaluate these phenomena in isolation, focusing solely on avoiding catastrophic rupture. However, a modern approach requires understanding how continuous microstructural damage influences not only the remaining useful life but also the end-of-life viability for material reclamation. By examining phenomenological and continuum damage mechanics models, this study bridges the gap between predictive structural health and circular economy principles. The analysis explores void nucleation, grain boundary sliding, and precipitate coarsening, correlating these mechanisms with the thermodynamic and economic feasibility of recovering high-value alloying elements such as chromium and molybdenum. Findings suggest that proactive serviceability limit state definitions, informed by precise creep forecasting, can significantly optimize both operational safety and subsequent resource recovery efficiency. Ultimately, integrating these domains provides a holistic framework for sustainable infrastructure management, minimizing industrial waste while maximizing material utility.