Collapse Loads for a Cylinder Embedded in Trench in Cohesive Soil

TLDR

The study examines how sediment resisting force depends on embedment depth for horizontal cylinders in vertical trenches, extending prior work to variable soil shear strength profiles and depths beyond one cylinder radius. Plane‑strain finite‑element calculations, benchmarked against classical plasticity bounds, were used to generate collapse‑load predictions, which were then fitted to produce simplified equations relating load to trench depth. The resulting equations can be applied to pipeline penetration, waste disposal, and mine detection scenarios.

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between the sediment resisting force and embedment depth for horizontal cylinders in a vertical trench. Plane-strain calculations of collapse loads are performed for a series of trench depths. Collapse load predictions are based on finite element predictions validated by upper and lower bound solutions from classical plasticity theory. This study extends work by previous investigators by considering variable soil shear strength profiles and embedment depths exceeding one cylinder radius. Curve fits are applied to the finite element predictions to develop simplified equations relating collapse load to trench depth. The predictions are relevant to a number of applications, including pipeline penetration, waste disposal, and mine detection.