Seismic Response of Elevated Steel Water Pipe

Abstract

Elevated steel water pipelines may be subjected to transverse and vertical seismic forces, and should be designed to withstand these forces safely. A specific elevated steel water pipeline is studied using a linear computer program that incorporates the response spectrum approach for seismic analysis. Two means of pipeline support are studied and compared: a steel moment-resisting frame system and a steel vertical truss system. Preliminary design of the individual supports is completed using an approximate lateral-force procedure. The bending moment in the pipeline is then investigated, as well as the lateral forces imparted to the support structures, using the response spectrum approach, with modifications for damping and ductility. Results indicate that the equivalent lateral-force procedure does not prove satisfactory for this particular pipeline. In addition, the vertical truss method of support results in a consistently lower bending moment in the pipeline than does the moment-resisting frame method of support.