Pipe–soil interaction and pipeline performance under strike–slip fault movements

The performance of pipelines subjected to permanent strike–slip fault movement is investigated by combining detailed numerical simulations and closed-form solutions. First a closed-form solution for the force–displacement relationship of a buried pipeline subjected to tension is presented for pipelines of finite and infinite lengths. Subsequently the solution is used in the form of nonlinear springs at the two ends of the pipeline in a refined finite element model, allowing an efficient nonlinear analysis of the pipe–soil system at large strike–slip fault movements. The analysis accounts for large strains, inelastic material behavior of the pipeline and the surrounding soil, as well as contact and friction conditions on the soil–pipe interface. The numerical models consider infinite and finite length of the pipeline corresponding to various angles β between the pipeline axis and the normal to the fault plane. Using the proposed closed-form nonlinear force–displacement relationship for buried pipelines of finite and infinite length, axial strains are in excellent agreement with results obtained from detailed finite element models that employ beam elements and distributed springs along the pipeline length. Appropriate performance criteria of the steel pipeline are adopted and monitored throughout the analysis. It is shown that the end conditions of the pipeline have a significant influence on pipeline performance. For a strike–slip fault normal to the pipeline axis, local buckling occurs at relatively small fault displacements. As the angle between the fault normal and the pipeline axis increases, local buckling can be avoided due to longitudinal stretching, but the pipeline may fail due to excessive axial tensile strains or cross sectional flattening. Finally a simplified analytical model introduced elsewhere, is enhanced to account for end effects and illustrates the formation of local buckling for relative small values of crossing angle.     

Finite element analysis of buried steel pipelines under strike-slip fault displacements

The present paper investigates the mechanical behavior of buried steel pipelines, crossing an active strike-slip tectonic fault. The fault is normal to the pipeline direction and moves in the horizontal direction, causing stress and deformation in the pipeline. The interacting soil–pipeline system is modelled rigorously through finite elements, which account for large strains and displacements, nonlinear material behavior and special conditions of contact and friction on the soil–pipe interface. Considering steel pipelines of various diameter-to-thickness ratios, and typical steel material for pipeline applications (API 5L grades X65 and X80), the paper focuses on the effects of various soil and pipeline parameters on the structural response of the pipe, with particular emphasis on identifying pipeline failure (pipe wall wrinkling/local buckling or rupture). The effects of shear soil strength, soil stiffness, horizontal fault displacement, width of the fault slip zone are investigated. Furthermore, the influence of internal pressure on the structural response is examined. The results from the present investigation are aimed at determining the fault displacement at which the pipeline fails and can be used for pipeline design purposes. The results are presented in diagram form, which depicts the critical fault displacement, and the corresponding critical strain versus the pipe diameter-to-thickness ratio. A simplified analytical model is also developed to illustrate the counteracting effects of bending and axial stretching. The numerical results for the critical strain are also compared with the recent provisions of EN 1998-4 and ASCE MOP 119.     

A simplified analysis model for determining the seismic response of buried steel pipes at strike-slip fault crossings

The seismic response analysis of buried pipelines at fault crossings is a complex problem requiring nonlinear 3D soil-structure and large deformation analyses. Such analyses are computationally expensive and the results are hard to evaluate. Therefore, a simple numerical model is needed for engineering and design offices to determine the seismic demand of steel pipes at fault crossings. This paper presents a simplified numerical model for buried steel pipes crossing strike-slip faults and oriented perpendicular to the fault. Two pipes with different diameter to thickness (D/t) ratios and steel grades are used in the study. The proposed model permits plastic hinge formations in the pipe due to incrementally applied fault movements, allows determination of the critical length of the pipeline and measure strains developed on the tension and compression sides in the pipe. The model also considers the effect of bending as well as axial strains due to stretching.     

A refined seismic analysis and design of buried pipeline for fault movement

Some lifelines, such as gas and oil transmission lines and water and sewer pipelines, have been damaged in recent earthquakes. The damages of these lifelines may cause major, catastrophic disruption of essential services for human needs. Large abrupt differential ground movements that result from an active fault present one of the most severe effects of an earthquake on a buried pipeline system. Although simplified analysis procedures for buried pipelines across strike-slip fault zones that cause tensile failure of the pipeline have been proposed, the results are not accurate enough because of several assumptions involved, such as the omission of flexural rigidity of the pipe, simplification of soil resistant characteristics, etc. Note that the omission of flexural rigidity cannot satisfy equilibrium conditions for pipelines across a ‘reverse’ strike-slip fault that causes compressions in the pipeline. This paper presents a refined analysis procedure for buried pipelines that is applicable to both strike-slip and reverse strikeslip faults after modifying some of the assumptions used previously. Based on the analytical results, this paper also discusses the design criteria for buried pipelines which are subjected to various fault movements. Parametric responses of buried pipeline for various fault movements, angles of crossing, buried depths and pipe diameters are presented.     

地震断层作用下的埋地管道等效分析模型

地震作用下,活动断层附近的埋地管道易发生强度屈服、局部屈曲或整体失稳等形式的破坏,建立准确、高效的埋地管道在断层作用下的计算模型,对管道的抗震设计和震后安全状态评估具有重要的实用价值。本文采用非线性弹簧模拟远离断层处埋地管道的反应,基于管土之间小变形段管道处于强化阶段,提出一种改进的管土等效分析模型,进一步减小了管土之间大变形段的分析长度,从而提高了有限元分析效率。该模型采用ALA推荐的方法计算管土间的滑动摩擦力,可以考虑土体种类的影响;用Kennedy方法确定管道的计算长度。通过与精确模型比较,验证了管土等效模型的合理性和有效性。     

穿越逆冲断层的埋地管道非线性反应分析

穿越逆冲断层的埋地管道在地震作用下,容易发生局部屈曲或整体失稳等形式的破坏,研究逆冲断层作用下的埋地管道地震反应规律,对管道抗震设计及施工等具有重要的意义。本文将埋地管线及周围土体从半无限地球介质中取出,分别以空间薄壳单元和实体单元进行离散,采用非线性接触力学方法模拟管、土之间的滑移、分离及闭合现象;采用线性位移加载模拟断层的错动,考虑了系统初始应力状态的影响,对土体未开裂前的管土相互作用系统进行了拟静力数值分析;分析了位错量、土体刚度、埋设深度、径厚比及跨越角度对埋地管道反应的影响,得出了一些有益的结论。     

跨断层隔震管道管端与土体相互作用分析

断层错动是造成埋地管道破坏的重要因素之一,因此,跨断层埋地管道在断层错动下的破坏机制、模型设计与参数分析和管道抗断层措施一直是生命线工程的前沿问题。对跨断层管道内力分析取得的成果较多,比较经典的是Newm ark-Hall方法、Kennedy方法和王汝梁方法,后来又出现基于壳模型的有限元分析方法。现有的管道抗断层措施具有其优点的同时亦有其不足。本文基于壳模型的有限元动力数值模拟,对一种管道跨断层隔震措施进一步研究,考虑管端与土体相互作用计算隔震管段的断层错动响应。计算结果表明拉应变容易在土中的管段传递,相比较而言,压应变不容易在土中的管段传递;最大拉应变降低比较多,最大压应变降低比较少。根据分析结果,对跨断层隔震管段边界条件的选取提出建议。     

Shaking table tests modelling small diameter pipes crossing a vertical fault

Local gas pipelines provide a valuable resource to urban areas and are often forced to cover unfavourable ground conditions in order to form a serviceable network. This can force pipelines through soil, which is subjected to permanent ground displacements due to faulting and strong vibrations due to earthquakes. Due to the inseparability of faulting from earthquakes it is pertinent to examine the combined effect of dynamic vibration and shear deformation of the surrounding soil on buried pipelines and a better understanding of the factors affecting pipe response to these inputs will enable more intelligent design of future pipe networks with the intention of reducing damage inflicted on pipes in extreme events. To advance understanding of this topic, a series of model experiments were performed under 1 g conditions on instrumented 20 mm diameter acrylic prototype pipes buried in dry Toyoura sand as well as a tyre derived aggregate (TDA) backfill trench surrounded by Toyoura sand crossing a vertical fault. The apparatus setup allowed faulting and dynamic input to be applied simultaneously to the model, which revealed that the simultaneous loading reduces the bending of a pipe and that installation of a pipe in a tyre derived aggregate backfill reduces the bending moment experienced by the pipe by up to 74% for small fault displacement and low levels of acceleration.     

跨越断层埋地管线地震反应数值分析

跨越断层埋地管线在地震中的破坏是非常严重的,地震本身和管土相互作用体系中都存在很多不确定性因素,所以管线在断层运动过程中反应比较复杂。本文利用有限元理论和数值模拟手段,建立了管土作用模型,采用非线性接触问题研究方法详细地分析了管线由断层运动而产生的反应,对影响管线的各种因素进行了分析,包括位错量、跨越角度、断层运动形式、埋设深度、初始轴向力、断层裂缝宽度、填覆土质和管径。通过研究,得到一些初步结论。     

A new proposal for simplified design of buried steel pipes crossing active faults

Simplified design methods for obtaining the maximum strain in pipelines crossing active faults proposed by Newmark, Kennedy and Wang have not considered the section deformation of the pipe. In this study, a new simplified method is developed for obtaining the maximum strain in steel pipes crossing faults considering non‐linearity of material and geometry of pipe section. It is assumed that the pipe will bend near the fault and the geometry of pipe in the longitudinal direction will change according to a bent deformation. On the other hand, the relation between maximum strain and bent angle has been obtained using a beam–shell hybrid FEM for different pipe‐fault conditions. The developed method can be used for calculating the maximum strains for fault‐crossing steel pipes with different angles of crossing both in tension and compression, by considering the deformation of the pipe cross‐section. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.     

Centrifuge modeling of buried continuous pipelines subjected to normal faulting

Seismic ground faulting is the greatest hazard for continuous buried pipelines.Over the years,researchers have attempted to understand pipeline behavior mostly via numerical modeling such as the finite element method.The lack of well-documented field case histories of pipeline failure from seismic ground faulting and the cost and complicated facilities needed for full-scale experimental simulation mean that a centrifuge-based method to determine the behavior of pipelines subjected to faulting is best to verify numerical approaches.This paper presents results from three centrifuge tests designed to investigate continuous buried steel pipeline behavior subjected to normal faulting.The experimental setup and procedure are described and the recorded axial and bending strains induced in a pipeline are presented and compared to those obtained via analytical methods.The influence of factors such as faulting offset,burial depth and pipe diameter on the axial and bending strains of pipes and on ground soil failure and pipeline deformation patterns are also investigated.Finally,the tensile rupture of a pipeline due to normal faulting is investigated.     

穿越走滑断层海底管道局部屈曲研究及应变响应预测

海洋地震频繁且海底土体环境复杂,当地震导致断层土体发生永久变形后,穿越断层的海底埋地管道也将受迫发生变形。为确定变形后的管道能否正常工作,需根据实际工况对其进行应变响应预测。首先通过有限元计算软件ABAQUS建立管道与走滑断层的三维实体模型,模拟管-土间的接触作用并通过等效边界方法修正模型,得到管道局部屈曲破坏形式及应变分布情况。然后,通过调整有限元模型参数对断层交角、管道工作内压、管道径厚比对管道极限塑性应变的影响进行敏感性分析,定性分析不同敏感性因素对穿越走滑断层海底管道应变响应的影响。最后,在数值模拟数据的基础上通过MATLAB软件利用基于遗传算法优化的BP神经网络实现对管道应变响应的精确预测。结果表明:穿越走滑断层管道在发生局部屈曲时,可根据轴向压缩应变突变现象确定管道局部屈曲时对应的断层位移,并且断层交角、管道工作内压和管道径厚比都会对跨断层管道应变响应产生影响。     

Seismic wave propagation effects on buried segmented pipelines

This paper deals with seismic wave propagation effects on buried segmented pipelines. A finite element model is developed for estimating the axial pipe strain and relative joint displacement of segmented pipelines. The model accounts for the effects of peak ground strain, shear transfer between soil and pipeline, axial stiffness of the pipeline, joint characteristics of the pipeline, and variability of the joint capacity and stiffness. For engineering applications, simplified analytical equations are developed for estimating the maximum pipe strain and relative joint displacement. The finite element and analytical solutions show that the segmented pipeline is relatively flexible with respect to ground deformation induced by seismic waves and deforms together with the ground. The ground strain within each pipe segmental length is shared by the joint displacement and pipe barrel strain. When the maximum ground strain is higher than 0.001, the pipe barrel strain is relatively small and can be ignored. The relative joint displacement of the segmented pipeline is mainly affected by the variability of the joint pullout capacity and accumulates at locally weak joints.     

地震断层对管道压溃压力的影响

利用有限元软件ABAQUS,结合用户自定义Python程序,开展地震断层作用下深海管道局部变形和压溃过程的数值模拟。分析均质土体和随机分布土体模型的地震断层位移大小对管道局部变形的影响,并分析断层诱发的局部挤压变形对管道压溃压力的影响。研究表明:相比于断层走向与管道轴线方向垂直的走滑断层,断层走向与管道轴线方向夹角为45°的走滑断层作用下管道的压溃压力较小,且当断层走向为管道轴线方向逆时针旋转45°时,左旋走滑断层作用下管道的压溃压力低于右旋走滑断层作用下的管道压溃压力。断层位移相同时,管道径厚比越大,压溃压力越小。考虑土壤随机性时,由于APIX65钢制管道刚性较大,且管道两侧土体内聚力和摩擦角分散于均质土壤土体参数均值两侧,因此断层作用过程中管道受到的土压力在均质土壤模型中的土压力数值处上下波动。     

Intensity measures for the assessment of the seismic response of buried steel pipelines

To estimate the demand of structures, investigating the correlation between engineering demand parameters and intensity measures (IMs) is of prime importance in performance-based earthquake engineering. In the present paper, the efficiency and sufficiency of some IMs for evaluating the seismic response of buried steel pipelines are investigated. Six buried pipe models with different diameter to thickness and burial depth to diameter ratios, and different soil properties are subjected to an ensemble of 30 far-field earthquake ground motion records. The records are scaled to several intensity levels and a number of incremental dynamic analyses are performed. The approach used in the analyses is finite element modeling. Pipes are modeled using shell elements while equivalent springs and dashpots are used for modeling the soil. Several ground motion intensity measures are used to investigate their efficiency and sufficiency in assessing the seismic demand and capacity of the buried steel pipelines in terms of engineering demand parameter measured by the peak axial compressive strain at the critical section of the pipe. Using the regression analysis, efficient and sufficient IMs are proposed for two groups of buried pipelines separately. The first one is a group of pipes buried in soils with low stiffness and the second one is those buried in soils with higher stiffness. It is concluded that for the first group of pipes, \(\sqrt {{\text{VSI}}[\upomega_{1} ({\text{PGD}} + {\text{RMS}}_{\text{d}} )]}\) followed by root mean square of displacement (RMS_d) are the optimal IMs based on both efficiency and sufficiency; and for the second group, the only optimal IM is PGD²/RMS_d.     

Permanent earthquake‐induced actions in buried pipelines: Numerical modeling and experimental verification

Buried pipelines are often constructed in seismic and other geohazard areas, where severe ground deformations may induce severe strains in the pipeline. Calculation of those strains is essential for assessing pipeline integrity, and therefore, the development of efficient models accounting for soil‐pipe interaction is required. The present paper is aiming at developing efficient tools for calculating ground‐induced deformation on buried pipelines, often triggered by earthquake action, in the form of fault rupture, liquefaction‐induced lateral spreading, soil subsidence, or landslide. Soil‐pipe interaction is investigated by using advanced numerical tools, which employ solid elements for the soil, shell elements for the pipe, and account for soil‐pipe interaction, supported by large‐scale experiments. Soil‐pipe interaction in axial and transverse directions is evaluated first, using results from special‐purpose experiments and finite element simulations. The comparison between experimental and numerical results offers valuable information on key material parameters, necessary for accurate simulation of soil‐pipe interaction. Furthermore, reference is made to relevant provisions of design recommendations. Using the finite element models, calibrated from these experiments, pipeline performance at seismic‐fault crossings is analyzed, emphasizing on soil‐pipe interaction effects in the axial direction. The second part refers to full‐scale experiments, performed on a unique testing device. These experiments are modeled with the finite element tools to verify their efficiency in simulating soil‐pipe response under landslide or strike‐slip fault movement. The large‐scale experimental results compare very well with the numerical predictions, verifying the capability of the finite element models for accurate prediction of pipeline response under permanent earthquake‐induced ground deformations.     

Factors influencing the behavior of buried pipelines subjected to earthquake faulting

Seismic ground faulting is a severe hazard for continuous buried pipelines. Over the years, researchers have attempted to understand pipe behavior, most frequently via numerical modeling and simulation. However, there has been little, if any, physical modeling and tests to verify the numerical modeling approaches and assumptions. This paper presents results of five pairs of centrifuge tests designed to investigate the influence of various factors on the behavior of buried high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines subjected to strike-slip faulting. Parameters considered are the soil moisture content, fault offset rate, relative burial depth (H/D), and pipe diameter. The centrifuge test results show that pipe behavior, specifically pipe strain, is nominally not affected by the soil moisture content and fault offset rate when the pipe is subjected to strike-slip faulting. On the other hand, the burial depth ratio (H/D) and pipe diameter influence peak pipe strain, and in some cases, the ground soil failure pattern.     

Analysis of buried pipelines subjected to reverse fault motion

Presently available simplified analytical methods and semi-empirical methods for the analysis of buried pipelines subjected to fault motion are suitable only for the strike-slip and the normal-slip type fault motions, and cannot be used for the reverse fault crossing case. A simple finite element model, which uses beam elements for the pipeline and discrete nonlinear springs for the soil, has been proposed to analyse buried pipeline subjected to reverse fault motion. The material nonlinearities associated with pipe-material and soil, and geometric nonlinearity associated with large deformations were incorporated in the analysis. Complex reverse fault motion was simulated using suitable constraints between pipe-nodes and ground ends of the soil spring. Results of the parametric study suggest that the pipeline's capacity to accommodate reverse fault offset can be increased significantly by choosing a near-parallel orientation in plan with respect to the fault line. Further improvement in the response of the pipeline is possible by adopting loose backfill, smooth and hard surface coating, and shallow burial depth in the fault crossing region. For normal or near normal orientations, pipeline is expected to fail due to beam buckling at very small fault offsets.     

Pipe–soil interaction for segmented buried pipelines subjected to dip faults

This paper describes an investigation of pipe–soil interaction equations suggested by currently used pipeline seismic design codes and the applicability of these equations to segmented pipelines. The results of computer‐aided analyses were compared to results obtained in full‐scale experiments on a segmented ductile iron pipeline 93 mm in diameter and 15 m in length. The pipeline was installed 600 mm below the ground surface in a sandy soil compacted to two different subgrade reaction values. The type of fault considered was a reverse fault with an intersection angle of 60° with the pipeline, and the fault movement was a total of 350 mm in three same steps in the fault trace direction. The findings of this study demonstrate the necessity of considering the nature of soil behavior in pipe–soil interaction equations and the effects of connection joints on the integrated response of pipelines to fault‐induced ground deformations. A new combination of equations constituting a direction‐wise selection from among the equations proposed by currently used guidelines is introduced as a new series to describe pipe–soil interaction for segmented pipelines and is verified using the results of full‐scale experiments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

穿越克孜尔逆冲断层的输气管道抗震分析

输气管道作为1种薄壁壳体结构,逆冲断层引起的管道压缩变形容易使其破坏。本文以大北南疆输气管道工程为例,探讨了穿越克孜尔逆冲断层的输气管道地震安全问题。在确定管道穿越处的断层倾角、设防断层位错量、表征管土相互作用的土弹簧参数以及钢管容许应变等参数后,采用壳有限元方法,分析了穿越克孜尔逆冲断层的输气管道变形反应。分析结果显示,管道在逆冲断层作用下以压缩应变为主,管道内的最大轴向压缩应变的幅值随着交角的减小而减小。在通过探槽等方法确定断层活动位置后,该管道若以小于或等于11°的交角通过克孜尔断裂,断层引起的最大轴向压缩应变和拉伸应变均在管道相应的容许应变范围内,满足相关规范的抗震要求。