Numerical Study of the Effects of Deep Excavations on Dynamic Performance of Buried Pipelines

The increasing use of the underground spaces in the urban areas has driven many researchers to deepen the knowledge on the effects of deep excavations on nearby properties. Earthquake hazards to utility systems become more and more important with the level of urbanization. The obligation to preserve services after an earthquake becomes more critical every day. Excavation-induced ground movements are generated by unbalanced forces due to the removal of soils within the excavation zone which could be greatly intensified if an earthquake is occurred. If the ground deformation is too large, neighboring facilities may develop cracks or damaged. Therefore, investigation of the seismic condition of adjacent properties in close proximity to deep excavation is required to avoid such damages. The main purpose of the present study is to investigate the dynamic performance of a buried pipeline alongside a deep excavation by ABAQUS program. A series of three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) finite element (FE) analyses are performed and the results, in terms of pipe normalized tensile strain, are plotted in dimensionless figures to evaluate the dynamic response of buried water pipe. The results show that the pipe seismic performance is a function of its position against the wall.