Stress Analysis of Surface Pipelines Located in Regions of Differential Ground Movements

Author(s):  
Kam Deng ◽  
David J. Queen ◽  
Andreas Felber ◽  
Don W. Bergman

Buried pipelines running through areas of large differential ground movements, such as active landslides, can be subject to severe overstress conditions. Moving these pipelines to the surface (i.e. surfacing) and resting them on timber skids reduces the impact of ground movements because slippage can occur between the pipe and the skids. This approach has been used successfully on several pipelines. Surfacing was recently considered for a 4.5 km section of a buried pipeline situated in northern British Columbia. The surfaced pipeline is supported by timber skids every 2 m and winds through mountainous terrain containing twenty different movement zones in which differential displacements range from 0 m to 3 m. Along the route, the direction of the ground movement varied with the terrain. The alignment also crossed a creek with a 45 m clear span. This paper describes the methodology used in completing the stress analysis for the surfaced pipeline. To capture various load effects, an existing construction stage analysis program was modified to facilitate the modelling of the surface pipeline under the various load paths. The evolution of the displacement and stress state of the pipeline was determined and tracked for several different load paths. For each state, a single plot that summarized the ground movement, slip distances, skid reactions and pipe stresses was produced. The results from this analysis are used to discuss the response of surface pipelines under thermal and ground movement loads.

Author(s):  
Sadana Dilrukshi ◽  
Dharma Wijewickreme

Geotechnical hazards can be a major cause of damage to pipelines, particularly as a result of unacceptable strains induced in buried pipelines due to permanent ground deformations. The common design philosophy in reducing soil restraint involves taking measures to effectively isolate the pipeline from the anticipated surrounding soil movements. One of the important engineering design considerations in this regard is the selection of suitable trench backfill material(s). Full-scale model tests have revealed that, in addition to the internal friction angle, coarseness of the backfill material is also an important parameter in controlling the lateral soil restraints on the pipes due to ground movements. It can be demonstrated that discrete element approach is suitable to study the effect of particle size on lateral soil loads of buried pipelines subjected to ground movement. This paper describes the outcome from DEM numerical modeling of the response of buried pipelines subjected to lateral ground movements, with a comparison of the findings with experimental results.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (16) ◽  
pp. 3284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feifei Dong ◽  
Xuemeng Bie ◽  
Jiangping Tian ◽  
Xiangdong Xie ◽  
GuoFeng Du

Long-distance oil and gas pipelines are inevitably impacted by rockfalls during geologic hazards such as mud-rock flow and landslides, which have a serious effect on the safe operation of pipelines. In view of this, an experimental and numerical study on the strain behavior of buried pipelines under the impact load of rockfall was developed. The impact load exerted on the soil, and the strains of buried pipeline caused by the impact load were theoretically derived. A scale model experiment was conducted using a self-designed soil-box to simulate the complex geological conditions of the buried pipeline. The simulation model of hammer–soil–pipeline was established to investigate the dynamic response of the buried pipeline. Based on the theoretical, experimental, and finite element analysis (FEA) results, the overall strain behavior of the buried pipeline was obtained and the effects of parameters on the strain developments of the pipelines were analyzed. Research results show that the theoretical calculation results of the impact load and the peak strain were in good agreement with the experimental and FEA results, which indicates that the mathematical formula and the finite element models are accurate for the prediction of pipeline response under the impact load. In addition, decreasing the diameter, as well as increasing the wall thickness of the pipeline and the buried depth above the pipeline, could improve the ability of the pipeline to resist the impact load. These results could provide a reference for seismic design of pipelines in engineering.


2020 ◽  
Vol 195 ◽  
pp. 01030
Author(s):  
Shirin Aminzadeh Bostani Taleshani ◽  
Robert Evans ◽  
Emad Gad ◽  
Mahdi Miri Disfani

Swell-shrink movement of expansive soils due to seasonal wetting and drying can cause differential ground movements. This movement can inflict substantial structural damage above foundation level to lightly loaded infrastructure. To reduce this movement, techniques have been employed to either (i) chemically restrain the soil’s reactivity, (ii) control the moisture variation within the ground, or (iii) engage a footing system that can limit the impact of the stresses generated by such differential ground movements. Recently, a new concrete-free footing system has been developed in Australia in an attempt to sufficiently resist such ground movements. This system is comprised of an adjustable steel plate attached to the ground by multiple thin steel (hollow) battered mini-piles. The technology shows promise as a low-impact, cost-effective, excavation and concrete-free, innovative alternative to traditional footing systems. It is also quick and easy to install without the use of bulky and expensive equipment. Early field trial results have indicated that this new footing system can combat against and significantly reduce the transfer of the swell-shrink ground movements to a structure. This paper will describe this new footing system and report on an experimental field trial to date, which will include measured ground movements, moisture content and soil suction results vs. depth, as well as the performance of this new driven battered mini-pile group footing system.


Author(s):  
Abdelfettah Fredj ◽  
Aaron Dinovitzer

Pipeline integrity is affected by the action of external soil loads in addition to internal fluid pressure. External soil loads can be generated by landslides or at sites subject to ground subsidence, heave or seismic effects. Under these varied conditions of ground movement potential pipeline safety involves constraints on design and operations. The design processes includes developing an understanding of strains that could be imposed on the pipe (strain demand) and strain limits that the pipe can withstand without failure. The ability to predict the pipeline load, stress or strains state in the presence of soil restraint and/or soil displacement induced loading is not well described in design standards or codes of practice. This paper describes the ongoing work involved in a study investigating the mechanical behavior of buried pipelines interacting with active landslides. Detailed pipe-soil interaction analyses were completed with a 3D continuum SPH method. This paper describes the LS-DYNA numerical modeling process, previously developed by the authors, which was refined and applied to site-specific conditions. To illustrate the performance of the modeling process to consider a translational slide, additional numerical model validation was completed and is described in this paper. These comparisons illustrate that good agreement was observed between the modeling results and experimental full scale trial results. Sample results of the application of the validated 3D continuum modeling process are presented. These results are being used to develop generalized trends in pipeline response to slope movements. The paper describes both the progress achieved to date and the future potential for simplified engineering design tools to assess the load or deformation capacity requirements of buried pipelines exposed to different types of slope movement.


2014 ◽  
Vol 915-916 ◽  
pp. 108-113
Author(s):  
Wei Kai Zong

Shield construction will cause surface subsidence, and the presence of underground structures above the tunnel has an impact on surface subsidence. Based on this, with the engineering of undercross shield tunnel construction on railway station as background, used numerical simulation method to analyze the effect of surface subsidence of underground passage, and studied the influence of depth and width of underpasses on ground movement induced. The results show that: The impact of the underground passage to the wire surface subsidence caused by the shield cannot be ignored. Surface subsidence caused by double shield will be decreased because of the existence of the underground passage, and that related to the channel depth and width. The greater the depth of underground channel, the greater the surface subsidence; greater the underground channel width, the smaller surface subsidence. Meanwhile, the surface subsidence trough width and the largest settlement scope unrelated to the depth of underground tunnels but the underground channel width, and increases with the increasing of the underpass width.


Author(s):  
Yong-Yi Wang ◽  
Don West ◽  
Douglas Dewar ◽  
Alex McKenzie-Johnson ◽  
Millan Sen

Ground movements, such as landslides and subsidence/settlement, can pose serious threats to pipeline integrity. The consequence of these incidents can be severe. In the absence of systematic integrity management, preventing and predicting incidents related to ground movements can be difficult. A ground movement management program can reduce the potential of those incidents. Some basic concepts and terms relevant to the management of ground movement hazards are introduced first. A ground movement management program may involve a long segment of a pipeline that may have a threat of failure in unknown locations. Identifying such locations and understanding the potential magnitude of the ground movement is often the starting point of a management program. In other cases, management activities may start after an event is known to have occurred. A sample response process is shown to illustrate key considerations and decision points after the evidence of an event is discovered. Such a process can involve fitness-for-service (FFS) assessment when appropriate information is available. The framework and key elements of FFS assessment are explained, including safety factors on strain capacity. The use of FFS assessment is illustrated through the assessment of tensile failure mode. Assessment models are introduced, including key factors affecting the outcome of an assessment. The unique features of girth welds in vintage pipelines are highlighted because the management of such pipelines is a high priority in North America and perhaps in other parts of the worlds. Common practice and appropriate considerations in a pipeline replacement program in areas of potential ground movement are highlighted. It is advisable to replace pipes with pipes of similar strength and stiffness so the strains can be distributed as broadly as possible. The chemical composition of pipe steels and the mechanical properties of the pipes should be such that the possibility of HAZ softening and weld strength undermatching is minimized. In addition, the benefits and cost of using the workmanship flaw acceptance criteria of API 1104 or equivalent standards in making repair and cutout decisions of vintage pipelines should be evaluated against the possible use of FFS assessment procedures. FFS assessment provides a quantifiable performance target which is not available through the workmanship criteria. However, necessary inputs to perform FFS assessment may not be readily available. Ongoing work intended to address some of the gaps is briefly described.


Author(s):  
Nikhil Joshi ◽  
Pritha Ghosh ◽  
Jonathan Brewer ◽  
Lawrence Matta

Abstract API RP 1102 provides a method to calculate stresses in buried pipelines due to surface loads resulting from the encroachment of roads and railroads. The API RP 1102 approach is commonly used in the industry, and widely available software allows for quick and easy implementation. However, the approach has several limitations on when it can be used, one of which is that it is limited to pipelines crossing as near to 90° (perpendicular crossing) as practicable. In no case can the crossing be less than 30° . In this paper, the stresses in the buried pipeline under standard highway vehicular loading calculated using the API RP 1102 method are compared with the results of two other methods; an analytical method that accounts for longitudinal and circumferential through wall bending effects, and the finite element method. The benefit of the alternate analytical method is that it is not subject to the limitations of API RP 1102 on crossing alignment or depth. However, this method is still subject to the limitation that the pipeline is straight and at a uniform depth. The fact that it is analytical in nature allows for rapid assessment of a number of pipes and load configurations. The finite element analysis using a 3D soil box approach offers the greatest flexibility in that pipes with bends or appurtenances can be assessed. However, this approach is time consuming and difficult to apply to multiple loading scenarios. Pipeline crossings between 0° (parallel) and 90° (perpendicular) are evaluated in the assessment reported here, even though these are beyond the scope of API RP 1102. A comparison across the three methods will provide a means to evaluate the level of conservatism, if any, in the API RP 1102 calculation for crossing between 30° and 90° . It also provides a rationale to evaluate whether the API RP 1102 calculation can potentially be extended for 0° (parallel) crossings.


2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Ranzenbach ◽  
Zhenlong Xu

A method is described to conduct an integrated Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) simulation of sails that is based upon knowledge of the sail’s design shape geometry and membrane material properties. A Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the sail structure and a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model of the aerodynamic field are combined and iteratively solved to compute the actual flying shape of the sail under aerodynamic load, the stress strain behavior of the sail membrane, the integrated aerodynamic forces produced by the sail such as driving force and heel moment, and the resulting loads on sheets, halyards, etc. An important contribution of this particular method is the incorporation of wrinkling phenomena into the FEA portion of the calculation. Results from a study of working sails for a 30’ MORC racing yacht designed by Nelson-Marek (NM) in the 1990’s are presented and discussed with particular emphasis on the variability of primary load paths with changing trim and sailing conditions as well as the impact of sail deformation in the direction of relatively small stresses that is often poorly addressed in many proprietary sail construction methods.


Author(s):  
Z. Joe Zhou ◽  
Bill Liu ◽  
Gregg O’Neil ◽  
Moness Rizkalla

TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. (TransCanada) operates approximately 37,000 km of natural gas gathering and transmission pipelines. Within the Alberta portion of this system there are almost 1100 locations where the pipeline(s) traverse slopes, primarily as the line approaches and exits stream crossings. In the past, the approach to managing the impact of slope movements on pipeline integrity has been reactive; site investigations and/or monitoring programs would only be initiated once the slope movements were sufficiently large so as to easily observe cracking or scarp development. In some cases these movements could lead to a pipeline rupture. To move to a proactive hazard management approach and to optimize the maintenance expenditure, TransCanada has developed a new slope assessment methodology. The objective of this methodology is to establish a risk-ranked list of slopes upon which maintenance decisions can be based. Using only internal and public information on site conditions as input to predictive models for rainfall-ground movement and pipe-soil interaction, a probability of pipeline failure can be generated for each slope. Estimates of risk using a consequence-matrix approach enabled the compilation of a risk-ranked list of hazardous slopes. This paper describes this methodology, and its implementation at TransCanada, and presents some of the results.


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