ABSTRACT
In South Africa leaking water distribution networks contribute to the formation of sinkholes in soil underlain by dolomite areas. By detecting the position of leaks in pipe networks as soon and as accurately as possible, maintenance action can be taken and the formation of sinkholes prevented. Local changes in the support conditions of a pipeline, due to leaks, would result in localized deformation of the pipeline. The detection of strain concentrations in a pipe network could thus potentially be used as an early warning system for sinkhole detection. In this paper centrifuge trapdoor experiments are described investigating the effect of void formation on the deformation and strain development in semi-flexible pipes. The effect of void size and cavity migration for different soil conditions and relative pipe stiffnesses are discussed.
