ABSTRACT
To investigate the process of pipeline/cable burial a pair of models has been developed to simulate a two-dimensional trench backfilling process at 1g, at two different length scaling ratios, 1:30 and 1:7.5. The aim is to investigate the influence of the velocity of the plough and the weight of the pipe or cable on its tendency to move during backfilling operations. Accelerometers attached to the model pipe ensure tracking of its position during the free motion of the pipe. The shape and velocity of the soil flow, down the slope of the trench, is monitored via particle image velocimetry (PIV) using the images from a MIRO R310 high-speed camera. The outcome of the tests will be to develop a framework to assess and quantify the risk of pipeline uplift and to improve design practice and certainty of meeting burial specifications.
