Structural Responses of Underground Pipelines to Dynamic Loadings

ABSTRACT

This study develops a simple analytical model to assess the dynamic response of a pipeline under ground shaking. Since many observed failures of buried pipes are attributable to pullout or crushing at joints and breaks along the pipeline itself, the present model is proposed to estimate the maximum relative joint displacement and the maximum structural strain, under various soil conditions and material properties. Outcomes from both the quasi-static approach and dynamic analysis are compared, to examine the effect of inertia and damping, which are generally neglected in dealing with such a structure. The effect of excitation frequency, joint stiffness, pipe size, and pipe length on structural response is studied. Numerical results may serve as a guide for design, as well as for reliability analysis.