Control-volume-based finite element modelling of liquefaction around a pipeline

Abstract

Pipelines are generally used to transmit energy sources from production sources to target places. Buried pipelines in saturated deposits during seismic loading could damage from resulting liquefaction due to accumulative excess pore-water pressure generation. In this paper, the evaluation of liquefaction potential in the vicinity of an offshore buried pipeline is studied using the control-volume-based finite element method. The objective of the present work is to study the effect of different governing parameters such as the specific weight of pipeline, Poisson's ratio, permeability of the soil, deformation module, pipeline diameter and pipeline burial depth on the soil liquefaction around a marine pipeline. The results of analysis indicated that with the increase of deformation module, Poisson's ratio and permeability of the soil coefficient, the liquefaction potential reduces. The liquefaction potential around the gas pipeline is much more than oil pipeline.