Simplified Formula for Axial Strains of Buried Pipes Induced by Propagating Seismic Waves

Abstract

Pipe strains developed in buried straight pipes by horizontally propagating seismic waves are analyzed. Extensive discussion is made for the general slippage conditions between soils and pipes, as well as for the arbitrary angle of incidence of the longitudinal and transverse waves relative to the pipe axis. After the pipe strain solutions and their upper and lower bounds are obtained for the given values of the angle of incidence, solutions for the maximum pipe strains with unknown angles of incidence are discussed. In particular, simple approximate closed-form solutions for the maximum pipe strains developed herein should be useful for practical applications.