Seismic analysis of underground pipelines subject to dynamic loading

Abstract

Seismic damage to buried underground pipelines was observed in the Canterbury 2010-2011 earthquakes, New Zealand. The post earthquake reconnaissances of these failures provide useful information about the failure modes and failure mechanisms of buried pipelines. The earthquake safety of buried pipelines has attracted a great deal of attention after the Christchurch earthquakes. Several studies have been carried out to investigate the earthquake response of the underground pipeline network in Christchurch, New Zealand. However, little numerical studies have been done to assess the influence of pipe properties and soil conditions. In this paper, the failure mechanisms of pipelines under dynamic loading were reviewed. Numerical modeling of dynamic responses of buried pipeline was carried out using finite element software package Plaxis. The responses of a pipeline with and without internal pressure were evaluated and compared. Parametric studies of the pipe sizes, buried depth, embedment, and internal pressures were conducted. The factors influencing pipeline behaviors of pipes were summarized. The results and methods in this work can be referred in the design and assessment of pipeline working conditions.