Pipeline Damage Due to Wave Propagation

Abstract

The potential exists for earthquake damage to water systems in many parts of the United States. There are two types of actions that water officials can take as part of a disaster or emergency response plan to minimize potential seismic effects to existing systems. These are physical damage mitigation and impact mitigation. In the case of impact mitigation, responsible officials need, among other things, a method for estimating the amount of expected seismic damage. This paper examines pipeline damage using data found in the literature and additional data as well. Results indicate that analytical estimates do not yet cover a broad enough range of damage mechanisms to be useful to water officials in estimating seismic wave propagation damage to buried pipelines. However, analytical procedures that quantify damage in terms of relative axial extension or axial compression force at a joint may prove useful in establishing design criteria for seismically resistant pipe.