Failure of Buried Pipelines Under Large Ground Deformations

Abstract

ABSTRACT During an earthquake permanent differential movements of ground can be caused by faulting, soil liquefaction, slope instability and local compaction of the ground. Buried pipelines can be damaged by permanent movements of these types. For instance, surface faults, landslides and local compaction of the ground in the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake caused the rupture and/or buckling failures in water, gas and sewage lines. Much of the ground movements from landslides and liquefaction involve the same deformation patterns as surface faulting. In this paper an overview of the response of buried pipelines to large ground deformations in the past earthquakes and in particular in the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake is presented. Then a concise summary of the recent advances in the investigation of behavior of pipelines in large ground deformation is given. It is shown that in comparison to above ground structures, pipeline systems are particularly vulnerable to local differential movements of the ground. The paper concludes with a buried description of research needs.