Buckling behavior of buried pipe crossing stratum subsidence area

Abstract

Stratum subsidence is one of the important factors threatening the pipe safety. Buckling phenomenon occurs on the pipe crossing subsidence area that may cause leakage accidents. The pipe soil coupling numerical model was established in this paper, buckling behavior of buried pipe crossing stratum area was investigated. The effects of subsidence displacement, radius-thickness ratio, internal pressure, buried depth and stratum on buried pipe’s mechanical behavior were discussed. The results show that buckling appears on the pipe when subsidence displacement is large. With the increasing of subsidence displacement, diameter-thickness ratio and buried depth of pipe, the buckling phenomenon becomes more serious. When the internal pressure of pipe increases, the buckling mode changes from concave fold to convex wrinkle gradually, and it is more serious with the increasing of internal pressure. The pipe in rock stratum is more dangerous than that in clay stratum and sand stratum. Those results can be used for the evaluation and maintenance of gas or hydrogen pipes.