Artificial earthquake test of gas supply networks

In this paper, seismic behavior of gas supply networks is investigated by constructing a 24 m×24 m buried network and conducting an artificial earthquake test by detonating TNT explosives. The pipe network consists of typical welded steel pipes used in gas supply networks. Ground motion is produced by detonating 30 kg of TNT explosives buried 5 m below ground surface and 15 m away from the network. The test preparations are presented, including site selection, network layout, ground motion generation, and arrangements of different sensors. The measured ground acceleration, strain, and acceleration of welded steel pipes, and pipe–soil relative slippage are discussed. The deformation patterns of welded steel pipes are also analyzed and explained, including axial and bending deformations, systematic network characteristics, deformation relationship between ground and pipes, and dynamic response of buried pipes.