Large deformation analysis of lateral pipeline-soil interaction

Buried pipelines may go under large lateral deformations in different occasions such as ice gouging, ground movement, significant thermal gradients, and dragging by anchors, etc. In practice, the backfilling material is much softer than the native trench material because of the impact of functional, environmental, and constructional loads. This important aspect which is less considered by pipeline design codes may have a significant impact on the soil failure mechanism around the pipe and consequently the lateral load-displacement response of the pipeline. In this study, the lateral pipeline-backfill-trench interaction will be numerically investigated under partial drained condition by performing advanced large deformation analysis. The numerical model will be calibrated against the centrifuge model tests earlier conducted in this project. The out come of the project is expected to improve the safe and cost-effective design of the subsea pipelines in Canada and worldwide.

Faculty Supervisor:

Hodjat Shiri

Student:

Partner:

Universidade de São Paulo;University of Western Australia

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program: