Innovative Retrofit of Three Large Diameter Landslide-Crossing Pipelines Using Earthquake Resistant Pipe

Abstract eng:
The evaluation, analysis and retrofit of three seismically vulnerable large diameter pipelines are presented. The pipelines are located within a landslide with the potential for very large sliding deformations that can cause failure of the existing pipelines, and result in substantial direct and indirect damages, including direct damage losses, loss of service, and potential flooding of the surrounding area. The existing pipelines, which range from 1.5 meter to 1.8 meter in diameter, are made from prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) which is highly vulnerable to failure when subjected to ground deformation. In order to mitigate the seismic risk of failure, multiple conceptual alternatives were studied that included a range of very different strategies, including consideration of different alignments, and special pipeline materials, joints and construction techniques. The preliminary evaluation and analysis of the conceptual alternatives led to the selection of the “compression pipe” alternative which incorporates flexible joints that allow joint deformation in multiple directions. During the final design phase of the project, detailed 3D nonlinear soil-pipe and pipe-soil-pipe interaction analyses of the selected alternative were performed using the ABAQUS finite element software in order to verify the adequacy of the proposed solution. The analysis model was also used to refine the design and optimize the pipeline’s seismic performance.

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