Lateral and Upward Soil-Pipeline Interactions in Sand for Deep Embedment Conditions

TLDR

The study examines soil–pipeline interactions in sand under lateral and upward movements, focusing on peak forces on the pipe, and notes that analytical solutions for deep embedment conditions yield large uncertainties due to wide bounds. The authors aim to determine peak forces and explore the transition from shallow to deep failure mechanisms by conducting finite element analyses of lateral and upward pipe movements across various embedment conditions. Finite element simulations were carried out using Mohr–Coulomb and Nor–Sand soil models, validated against experimental tank tests, and extended to embedment ratios up to 100 to capture deep failure behavior. Finite element results were used to construct a design chart for deep embedded pipelines.

Abstract

The soil–pipeline interactions in sand under lateral and upward movements are investigated with particular attention to the peak forces exerted on the pipe. The analytical solutions for estimating the peak forces are summarized and it is shown that, for deep embedment condition, there is large uncertainty in the true values since the bounds established by the analytical solutions are large. In order to find the solution for the peak force and to investigate its transition from shallow to deep failure mechanism, finite element analyses of lateral and upward pipe movements are performed for different embedment conditions. Two different soil models (Mohr–Coulomb and Nor–Sand models) are used for the simulations. The accuracy of the analysis is first examined by simulating experimental tank tests. The analysis is further extended to deeper embedment ratios of as large as 100. The obtained finite element results are used to construct a design chart for deep embedded pipelines.