Experimental Study on Extreme Hydrodynamic Loading on Pipelines Part 2: Induced Force Analysis

Abstract

Adequate design of pipelines used for oil, gas, water, and wastewater transmission is essential not only for their proper operation but particularly to avoid failure and the possible extreme consequences. This is even more drastic in nearshore environments, where pipelines are potentially exposed to extreme hydrodynamic events, such as tsunami- or storm-surge-induced inundation. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), in its ASCE7 Chapter 6 on Tsunami Loads and Effects which is the new standard for tsunami impacts and loading, specifically stresses the need to study loads on pipelines located in tsunami-prone areas. To address this issue, this study is the first of its kind to investigate loading on pipelines due to tsunami-like bores. A comprehensive program of physical model experiments was conducted in the Dam-Break Hydraulic Flume at the University of Ottawa, Canada. The tests simulated on-land tsunami flow inundation propagating over a coastal plain. This allowed to record and investigate the hydrodynamic forces exerted on the pipe due to the tsunami-like, dam-break waves. Different pipe configurations, as well as various flow conditions, were tested to investigate their influence on exerted forces and moments. The goal of this study was to propose, based on the results of this study, resistance and lift coefficients which could be used for the design of pipelines located in tsunami-prone areas. The values of the resistance and lift coefficients investigated were found to be in the range of 1 <   C R < 3.5 and 0.5 ≤   C L < 3 , respectively. To that end, the study provides an upper envelope of resistance and lift coefficients over a wide range of Froude numbers for design purposes.

Keywords

• pipelines
• extreme event
• tsunami
• dam-break wave
• drag force
• force coefficient