Buried pipeline subjected to seismic landslide: A simplified analytical solution

Abstract

The present study proposes a simplified analytical solution based on Euler Bernoulli's beam theory to investigate the influence of seismic landslide on buried continuous pipeline. Firstly, the differential equation of the beam (pipe) is derived considering the beam is resting on elastic foundation (soil spring) and then the complete solution (both complementary function and particular integral) of the governing differential equation is developed considering available boundary conditions and continuity conditions of the idealized problem. A quartic polynomial function is adopted to simulate non-uniform ground deformation patterns induced from seismic landslide. The results of analytical solution are compared with the pipe deformation curves obtained by earlier researchers along the permanent ground deformation (PGD) zone. Variation of peak pipe displacement of 9.65% and 9.83% are observed for peak ground deformation of 0.6 m and 1.0 m, respectively. Further, a 3D finite element based numerical analysis is also carried out considering block pattern horizontal transverse ground deformation and compared the result with the proposed analytical solution and maximum variation of 4.31% is observed. Finally, numerically investigated the influence of pipe-soil interface properties on pipe response. The present study will be useful for solving problems related to pipe deformation due to horizontal transverse ground deformation in a simplified manner without performing rigorous numerical analysis and displacement pattern for buried pipe can be obtained.