In‐Service Buckling of Heated Pipelines

Abstract

Compressive forces may be induced in pipelines by the restraint of axial extensions due to temperature changes or other causes. These forces may cause vertical or lateral buckling of the pipeline. These two buckling modes, which both involve an overall column‐type response without gross distortion of the pipeline cross‐section, are analyzed on the basis of related work on railroad track. For normal coefficients of friction, the lateral mode occurs at a lower axial load than the vertical mode and is dominant in pipelines unless the line is trenched or buried. The theoretical solutions are illustrated by numerical results for a typical pipeline and some design implications reviewed.