Interaction of pipelines with landslides: analysis of mechanical properties at different strengths

Abstract

Landslides, as a common geological hazard, pose a significant threat to critical infrastructure such as pipelines. With numerous large-scale engineering projects in China crossing active fault zones, the impact of geological hazards on the safe operation of pipelines is becoming increasingly prominent. To accurately assess the impact of landslides on pipelines, this study employs the open-source DualSPHysics code and constructs a three-dimensional numerical model of landslide impact on pipelines based on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method. The study conducts a quantitative analysis of key factors such as sliding displacement and landslide scale, thoroughly exploring the mechanisms by which landslides affect pipelines. The results indicate that as the landslide displacement increases, the rate at which the pipeline's stress increases accelerates, and the rate of stress decrease after reaching the peak also accelerates. Additionally, when the width of the landslide mass increases, its volume correspondingly increases, leading to a significant enhancement in the impact force experienced by the pipeline. Furthermore, the study analyzes the impact of different initial distances between SPH particles on the pipeline to optimize the accuracy and computational efficiency of the simulations. This research not only provides new perspectives and approaches for assessing pipeline safety but also holds significant implications for enhancing pipeline disaster resistance and guiding design and safety assessments in geological engineering and infrastructure projects.