Failure Analysis and Numerical Simulation of the Buried Steel Pipeline in Rock Layer Under Strike-Slip Fault

Fault movement is one of the threats for the structural integrity of buried pipelines. Failure of buried pipeline will cause explosion, environment pollution, fluid leakage, and other accidents. Buckling behavior of buried pipeline in rock layer under strike-slip fault displacement was investigated by finite element method. Effects of internal pressure and fault displacement on buckling mode and strain of buried pipeline were discussed. The results show that buckling modes of high pressure and low pressure pipeline are different. There are three buckling locations of the pipeline under strike-slip fault when u = 1.8 m; the buckling modes in the fault plane are different with the modes on both sides. The maximum von Mises stress appears on the buckling location. Buckling modes on both sides change from collapse to wrinkle gradually with the internal pressure increases, and the wrinkle amplitude increases. Axial strain and plastic strain increase first and then decrease with the internal pressure increases. Buckling locations of the low pressure pipeline increase from two to three with the fault displacement increases. But for high pressure pipeline, buckling locations increase from two to three, and then increase to five. Those results can provide a basis for the safety assessment and construction design of buried pipelines. © 2015, ASM International.