Seismic damage to segmented buried pipelines

Abstract

Abstract Seismic damage to segmented buried pipelines is investigated in this paper. Information on their performance during past earthquakes is reviewed briefly. An analytical model for evaluating the response of long straight runs of segmented buried pipelines to seismic wave propagation is presented. It takes into account the non‐linearity as well as the variability of the system characteristics. Also, results from laboratory tests by others are used to establish the relative joint displacement which leads to leakage. These two elements are combined to predict the damage ratio (number of leaks per kilometre) for cast iron pipes with lead caulked joints subject to a joint pull‐out failure mode.