Seismic response of large diameter buried concrete pipelines subjected to high frequency earthquake excitations

• Buried pipelines are tubular structures that cross large areas with different geological conditions. During an earthquake, imposed loads from soil deformations on pipelines may cause drastic damages. In this study two dimensional finite element models of pipelines and surrounding soils are usedfor simulation of seismic waves that propagate from the bedrock through thesoil. The models describe both longitudinal and transverse cross-sections ofpipelines and the soil-pipe interaction is described as a nonlinear behaviour.The effects of uniform ground with different burial depth and soil layer thickness, soil stiffness and non-uniform ground on the seismic response of reinforced concrete pipelines is studied. Two earthquakes, with high and low frequency contents, are employed for the dynamic analysis. The results show asignificant effect on the response due to non-uniform ground caused by inclined bedrock, especially for high frequency earthquake excitations.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Infrastrukturteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Infrastructure Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

buried pipelines; high frequency; finite element; seismic analysis; non-uniform ground; soil stiffness

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)