Method and system for detection and prevention of stress corrosion cracking in buried structures

A method and system for detecting and preventing Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) in buried pipelines or other structures is presented. The basic principle of the invention is to use a plurality of test coupons which are placed in the same environment as a pipeline or other structure of interest as indicators of the development of SCC in the structure of interest. Loading and temperature of the test coupons are controlled. The test coupons are given a range of different Cathodic Protection (CP) levels, with the range of CP levels selected so as to encompass the CP level at which SCC would be expected to occur. The occurrence of cracking in a test coupon indicates levels of CP which will sustain SCC. SCC is prevented in the structure by application of a level of CP which did not sustain SCC.