Compounded fuzzy entropy-based derivation of uncertain critical factors causing corrosion in buried concrete sewer pipeline

Abstract

Corrosion in buried concrete sewer pipelines remains a critical challenge for infrastructure sustainability, driven by the complex interplay of environmental, material, operational, pipe-related, and physical factors with inherent uncertainty and interdependency, aspects often overlooked previously. This study introduces a novel compounded fuzzy entropy-based approach to systematically prioritize critical corrosion-inducing factors, integrating environmental (H?S, pH, humidity, temperature, O?), material (cement content, alkalinity, w/c ratio, porosity, permeability), pipe-related (age, length, diameter, depth, slope), operational (flow velocity, water pressure, hydraulic energy loss, sewage residence time, sewer type), and physical (soil type, corrosivity, moisture, groundwater level, external load) factors. Results identify H?S (0.2073), pH (0.2055), humidity (0.2031), pipe age (0.2039), length (0.2019), cement content (0.2026), alkalinity (0.2015), water pressure (0.2073), flow velocity (0.2043), soil type (0.2042), and soil corrosivity (0.2025) as the most influential contributors, enabling targeted corrosion mitigation strategies and enhancing infrastructure resilience. © The Author(s) 2025.