ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the modified nonlinear pipe-soil interaction model and the verification of the model and examines the Finite Element Method (FEM) for lateral buckling of submarine pipelines. It discusses the simulated results and the effects of pipe-soil interaction parameters, imperfections and different pipe-soil forms on critical force and localization patterns of lateral buckling. Lateral buckling of submarine pipelines under the conditions of high pressure and high temperature is a primary concern for structural integrity and lateral pipe-soil interaction plays a significant role on lateral buckling and post-buckling. Once the axial force is beyond the critical force, lateral buckling happens since the lateral soil resistance against the pipeline is smaller than the vertical resistance. The pipe-soil interaction is another key factor that affects the lateral buckling behavior. In three dimensional FEM, the interaction between pipe and soil is described by three directions pipe-soil response behavior: axial, lateral and vertical.
