Centrifuge Modeling of Earthquake Effects on Buried High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Pipelines Crossing Fault Zones

Abstract

Permanent ground deformation is a severe hazard for continuous buried pipelines. This technical paper presents results from four centrifuge tests designed to investigate the influence of pipe-fault orientation on pipe behavior under earthquake faulting. The experimental setup and procedures are described, and the test results are presented. The test results show that, as expected, pipe axial strain is strongly influenced by the pipe-fault orientation angle, whereas the influence of pipe-fault orientation angle on pipe bending strain is minor. The measured pipe strains were shown to follow the trend predicted by the Kennedy model. Also, through a parametric study using the Kennedy model, the experimental data were extrapolated for cases of pipeline with longer unanchored length. By combing the data from strain gauges and tactile pressure sensors, transverse force–deformation relations or