Behaviour of buried continuous pipelines crossing strike-slip faults: Experimental and numerical study

The paper examines the behaviour of buried continuous pipelines crossing strike-slip faults using experimental and numerical modelling. A newly developed experiment setup is presented along with derivation relevant scaling laws non-dimensional terms governing global response to faulting. Four model tests are carried out understand performance results through derived framework. Three-dimensional (3D) Finite Element (FE) also undertaken simulate calibrated against test a field case record for validation verification. parametric study better parameters influencing investigate effects pipe end conditions on their behaviour. API 5 L X70 steel 490 MPa yield strength was used in study. Two different scenarios based fault angle (β) were considered study: (a) tension bending; (b) compression bending. show that longitudinal strains under faulting strongly dependent six parameters: normalized displacements (represented by δ/D where δ displacement D diameter which an indication soil strain mobilised zone); ratio wall thickness (D/t); (c) (β); (d) relative soil-pipe stiffness (kD4/EI); (e) burial depth (H/D) (f) conditions. Finally, practical implications discussed.