Improving Structural Integrity of Buried Pipelines under Ground Movements by Reducing Strain Demand and Advanced Strain Monitoring

地面移动可能会对作为加拿大关键基础设施的石油和天然气行业广泛使用的埋地管道造成非常不利的影响。虽然由地面移动引起的管道故障并不频繁，但它们经常会导致重大泄漏，这可能会在损害控制和清理方面付出极高的代价，危及整个管道的功能，并导致重大经济损失、环境问题甚至死亡。目前的技术提供了先进的工具，以确定地面运动的高概率地区及其预期方向和规模。一种切实可行的先进的缓解措施，一方面可以帮助管道行业防止因地面移动而导致的管道破裂，另一方面也可以保护环境和公众。该研究项目旨在为一种新的缓解技术提供基于测试的设计和建模工具，该技术包括在易受地面移动影响的地区靠近管道放置特殊类型的正交各向异性岩土材料块，以防止管道因过度变形而失效。我们的研究主要集中在四个关键目标上：1)通过现场试验评估在地面变形下土工缓冲增强埋地管道的整体稳定性和应变响应；2)发展基于力学的土工缓冲增强埋地管道分析方法；3)提出埋地管道监测准则；4)开发模拟土壤-土工缓冲土管道相互作用的数值模拟技术。为了实现这些目标，研究小组将进行现场测试，并采用先进的应变监测技术、数值模拟和基于力学的分析。我们将为管道工程师的日常工作提供改进的监测、建模和设计建议，从而在保护加拿大环境的同时提高管道的安全性和可靠性。

Ground movements can be very detrimental to buried pipelines that are extensively used in oil and gas industry as key Canadian infrastructure. 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, compromising the entire pipeline's functionality and resulting in significant economic losses, environmental issues or even fatalities. 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 aims to provide test-based design and modelling tools for a novel mitigation technique, which consists of special type of orthotropic geomaterial blocks placed adjacent to the pipe in areas susceptible to ground movements to prevent pipeline failure due to excessive deformations. Our research project focuses on four key objectives: 1) evaluate using field testing the global stability and strain response of buried pipelines enhanced by Geobuffer under ground deformation; 2) develop mechanics-based analysis method for buried pipelines enhanced by Geobuffer; 3) propose monitoring guidelines for buried pipelines; 4) develop numerical modelling technique for simulating the soil-Geobuffer-pipe interaction. To achieve these aims, the research team will perform field tests and employ advanced strain monitoring techniques, numerical modelling and mechanics-based analyses. We will provide improved monitoring, modelling and design recommendations to pipeline engineers for their daily work, resulting in increased safety and reliability for pipelines while protecting Canadian environment.