Gas Pipeline Stress Analysis Affected by Landslide Induced Soil Deformation

The integrity of underground pipelines is critical in the gas transmission and distribution process. The effect of landslide-induced soil deformation on the stress development of an underground gas pipeline is discussed in this study. The finite element method is used to simulate soil deformation and determine its impact on pipeline stress. To represent a landslide condition on the field, soil strength parameters are reduced until the failure plane of the slope is formed. The results show that lowering the strength parameter to 15.7 kPa causes the stress in the pipe to exceed the allowable limit. To keep the stress on the pipe within the allowable stress limit, a recommendation for slope reinforcement using gabion walls at the slope’s toe is made.