ABSTRACT
Pipeline damages caused by landslides can create serious environmental hazards and therefore special care is needed in the design. A series of model tests were carried out to study the response of pipelines to landslide induced loads. A model pipeline, instrumented with strain gauges, was used to investigate the effect of pipeline embedment on pipeline bending moments caused by a landslide. Measured pipeline response was compared to predictions made through a numerical analysis in which the pipeline was modelled as an elastic beam on non-linear springs. Predictions made using several spring characteristics underestimated significantly the pipeline bending moments and displacements. A new load-displacement relationship was proposed which produced good agreement between measured and predicted pipeline responses.
