Enhanced performance of buried pipelines subjected to ground movements

地面运动对油气工业中广泛使用的地下管道是非常有害的。虽然由地面运动引起的管道故障并不常见，但它们通常会导致严重的泄漏，这可能会导致损失控制和清理成本极高。目前的技术提供了先进的工具来识别地面运动的高概率区域及其预期的方向和震级。一项实用和先进的缓解措施，一方面可以帮助管道行业防止由于地面移动而导致的管道破裂，另一方面可以保护环境和公众。本研究项目研究了一种新的缓解方法，以防止由于地面运动而导致的管道故障，该方法使用了一种特殊类型的正交各向异性缓冲装置，该缓冲装置用于易受地面运动影响的地区。我们的研究项目集中在四个关键目标上：1)利用数值有限元模拟，评估缓冲元件对地面运动引起的位移下埋地管道稳定性响应的影响；2)通过现场试验，评价缓冲增强埋地管道的稳定性响应；3)建立有效的数值数据集，预测埋地管道在压缩力作用下的局部和全局响应；4)提出了模拟各种地面运动组合下管道响应的设计公式和建模技术。为了达到这些目标，研究小组将进行实地试验并采用数值模拟。我们还将为从业人员的日常工作提供改进的建模和设计建议，从而提高管道的安全性和可靠性。所提出的解决方案可以显著提高管道容量，以承受由地震、边坡破坏、边坡蠕变、断层滑动等自然力量引起的大位移。

Ground movements can be very detrimental to buried pipelines that are extensively used in oil and gas industry. Although pipeline failures caused by ground movements are not frequent, they often result in major spills that could be extremely costly in damage control and clean ups. Current technologies provide advanced tools to identify areas with high probability of ground movements and their expected direction and magnitude. A practical and advanced mitigation measure can help pipeline industry to prevent pipe rupture due to ground movements in one hand and to protect the environment and the public on the other hand. This research project investigates a novel mitigation method to prevent pipeline failure due to ground movements using a special type of orthotropic buffers employed in areas susceptible to ground movements. Our research project focuses on four key objectives: 1) evaluate, using numerical finite element simulations, the influence buffering elements on the stability response of buried pipelines under the displacement caused by ground movements; 2) assess, by means of field testing, the stability response of buried pipelines enhanced by buffering; 3) develop a validated numerical dataset to predict the local and global response of buried pipelines under compressive forces; and 4) propose design formulations and modeling techniques to simulate the pipe response under various combinations of ground movement. To achieve these aims, the research team will perform field tests and employ numerical modelling. We will also provide improved modeling and design recommendations to practitioners for their daily work, resulting in increased safety and reliability for pipelines. The proposed solution can remarkably increase pipe capacity to sustain large magnitudes of displacements caused by natural forces such as earthquakes, slope failures, slope creeps, fault slips, etc.