Numerical simulation and experimental validation of seismic response of a buried pipeline under non-uniform excitation

Abstract

In order to study the seismic response of buried pipeline under non-uniforn excitation, this paper presents a three-dimensional (3D) finite element numerical model based on the shaking table test of a buried pipeline under nonuniform excitation, which considers the nonuniform seismic excitation and pipe-soil nonlinear dynamic interaction of the buried pipeline. The model adopts the static and dynamic coupling analysis method, and Davidenkov nonlinear constitutive model was utilized for the soil analysis. The pipe-soil interaction adopts frictional contact to consider the slip and separation of the pipe and soil. The roller boundary is adopted in the model. The input of the numerical model is the acceleration time history measured at the bottom of the corresponding active box in the shaking table tests. The analysis results show that the numerical simulation results fit well with the measured results of the shaking table tests in terms of the acceleration time history, acceleration amplification coefficient, and strain peak curve along the axial direction of the pipeline, reflecting similar laws, which mutually confirms the correctness of the numerical model and shaking table test results.