A study on the effects of slope grade on the soil-pipeline interaction loading

ABSTRACT: In this work, a numerical model is calibrated using the force-displacement data of Trautmann et al. (1985). The numerical technique is implemented to study the effects of slope angle on soil-pipeline interaction loading. For this purpose, the pipe is displaced in horizontal, upward and oblique directions and force-displacement curves are plotted for each analysis. The results show that the existing p-y curves of soil-pipeline interaction available in the design guidelines might be unconservative when the pipe is buried in a slope. The soil displacement contours, plotted for each analysis, demonstrate the mechanism of soil failure against the pipe displacement. This preliminary numerical study highlights the importance of updating the force-displacement curves of soil-pipeline interaction to take into consideration the slope inclination.