Stress and Deformation Analysis of Buried Gas Pipelines Subjected to Buoyancy in Liquefaction Zones

Mengying Xia and Hong Zhang
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Mengying Xia: College of Mechanical and Transportation Engineering, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
Hong Zhang: College of Mechanical and Transportation Engineering, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: Buried pipelines are the main means of long distance transportation of natural gas. These pipelines are in high risk crossing liquefaction areas due to large deformations and stresses that may exist in pipe induced by the buoyancy load. In this study, a systematic analytical and numerical analysis were performed to investigate the mechanical behavior of a buried gas pipeline subjected to buoyancy in liquefaction areas. Soil constraints on pipe were considered accurately in the proposed models through soil spring assumptions. Effects of axial forces on pipe’s bending deformation were also considered via the governing equations for beam under bending and tension. Deformation compatibility condition was utilized to derive the axial forces in pipe. The accuracy of the proposed analytical model was validated by comparing its results with those derived by an established rigorous finite element model. In addition, parametric analysis was finally performed using the analytical model to study the influences of pipe diameter, pipe wall thickness, soil spring stiffness and width of liquefaction zone on pipe’s mechanical responses. This study can be referenced in the strength analysis and performance based safety evaluation of buried gas pipelines crossing liquefaction areas.

Keywords: gas pipeline; stress; buoyancy load; liquefaction area; analytical method; finite element method (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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