Large-deformation finite element analysis of pipe penetration and large-amplitude lateral displacement
- 1 August 2010
- journal article
- Published by Canadian Science Publishing in Canadian Geotechnical Journal
- Vol. 47 (8), 842-856
- https://doi.org/10.1139/t09-147
Abstract
Seabed pipelines must be designed to accommodate thermal expansion — which is commonly achieved through controlled lateral buckling — and to resist damage from submarine slides. In both cases, the pipe moves laterally by a significant distance and the overall pipeline response is strongly influenced by the lateral pipe–soil resistance. Here, the process of pipe penetration and lateral displacement is investigated using a large-deformation finite element method, with a softening rate–dependent soil model being incorporated. The calculated soil flow mechanisms, pipe resistances, and trajectories agree well with plasticity solutions and centrifuge test data. It was found that the lateral resistance is strongly influenced by soil heave during penetration and the berm formed ahead of the pipe during lateral displacement. For “light” pipes, the pipe rises to the soil surface and the soil failure mechanism involves sliding at the base of the berm. In contrast, “heavy” pipes dive downwards and a deep shearing zone is mobilized, expanding with continuing lateral movement. The different responses are reconciled by defining an “effective embedment” that includes the effect of the soil berm or wall ahead of the pipe. The relationship between normalized lateral resistance and effective embedment is well fitted using a power law.Keywords
This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effect of Surface Heave on Response of Partially Embedded Pipelines on ClayJournal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2009
- The ultimate undrained resistance of partially embedded pipelinesGéotechnique, 2008
- Mechanisms of pipe embedment and lateral breakout on soft clayCanadian Geotechnical Journal, 2008
- Upper Bound Plasticity Analysis of a Partially-Embedded Pipe Under Combined Vertical and Horizontal LoadingSoils and Foundations, 2008
- External radial stress changes and axial capacity for suction caissons in soft clayGéotechnique, 2007
- Upper-bound analysis of lateral pile capacity in cohesive soilGéotechnique, 2006
- Collapse Loads for a Cylinder Embedded in Trench in Cohesive SoilInternational Journal of Geomechanics, 2005
- Combining upper bound and strain path methods for evaluating penetration resistanceInternational Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2005
- A practical numerical approach for large deformation problems in soilInternational Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 1998
- Pipe penetration in cohesive soilGéotechnique, 1989