Application of Composite Wraps for Strengthening of Buried Steel Pipelines Crossing Active Faults

Abstract

In the paper, the efficiency of strengthening of a buried steel pipeline with a composite wrap subjected to an active faults action is analyzed. A threedimensional numerical model of the pipeline is developed. The pipeline is considered as an elastoplastic steel shell, while the composite wrap is represented as an orthotropic elastic shell. The model takes into account the elastoplastic behavior of soil, contact interaction between the soil and the pipe, large inelastic strains, distortion of the pipeline cross section, and local buckling formation. A normalslip fault kinematics with large fault offsets is considered in numerical modeling. The effect of the wrap thickness, length, and position relative to the fault plane is analyzed.