Design of hazard resilient steel pipe using numerical simulations and large scale testing

Abstract

Large diameter steel pipe is a critical component of water transmission infrastructure
around the world and carries a significant percentage of consumed water in transmission
lines ranging in diameter from 0.6 m (24 in.) to 3. 7 m (144 in.). Failure of these large
diameter lifelines in areas of high seismicity can prove catastrophic by hindering fire suppression efforts and access to clean drinking water. This paper investigates current design practices for continuously welded steel pipe and addresses the applicability to new hazard-resistant design feature. Full-scale tests were performed at Cornell University's Geotechnical Lifelines Large-Scale Testing Facility to determine the efficacy of an innovative steel pipe for fault crossing (SPF). The pipes were tested at quarter scale with a diameter of 0.22 m (8.5 in.). High fidelity three-dimensional finite element models were calibrated by large-scale test results and used to predict the response of a 0.86 m (34 in.) diameter pipeline.