No abstract

Substantial permanent ground deformation (PGD) can be generated during earthquakes, causing deformation and strain that concentrates at pipeline elbows. This paper describes in-plane bending experiments on various kinds of low-angle elbows in the closing and opening mode, and Finite Element (FE) modeling to simulate their deformation behavior using linear shell elements. Good agreement was obtained between the analytical and experimental results, even for plastic deformation as much as 30% strain. Analytical results obtained with a modeling technique named HYBRID MODEL are also presented for the behavior of 300-mm-diameter buried pipelines with low-angle elbows subjected to PGD.

Earthquake-induced Permanent Ground Deformation (PGD) can affect significantly underground gas or water pipelines. This paper describes large-scale experiments to investigate the effect of PGD on buried steel pipelines with elbows, and to validate and calibrate Finite Element (FE) modeling. There is good agreement between both the magnitude and distribution of measured strains and deformation and those modeled with FE analyses. The analytical models are able to simulate real performance in a reliable way for dry sand, and for partially saturated sand with an adequate correction factor. Using the analytical model, recommendations are proposed for enhancing the earthquake-resistance of buried pipelines with elbows subjected to PGD.

No abstract

Earthquake-induced Permanent Ground Deformation (PGD) can affect significantly underground gas or water pipelines. This paper describes large-scale experiments to investigate the effect of PGD on buried steel pipelines with elbows, and to validate and calibrate Finite Element (FE) modeling. There is good agreement between both the magnitude and distribution of measured strains and deformation and those modeled with FE analyses. The analytical models are able to simulate real performance in a reliable way for dry sand, and for partially saturated sand with an adequate correction factor. Using the analytical model, recommendations are proposed for enhancing the earthquake-resistance of buried pipelines with elbows subjected to PGD.