Developing and Utilizing a Universal Model for the Study of Slope Stability under Freeze–Thaw Action in the Presence of an Oil Pipeline Crossing
Publication: Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice
Volume 13, Issue 4
Abstract
Pipeline crossings influence the soil water and heat distribution and then affect soil shear strength parameters, including internal friction angle and cohesion. Soil melting reduces the shear strength. Slope instability, which could lead to pipeline exposure, deformation, and so on, may occur under rainfall and soil gravity. Thus the stability of permafrost slopes with a pipeline crossing was studied. The safe slope angle that the pipeline could cross without protective measures was determined. Based on the strength reduction method and Drucker-Prager elastoplastic model, a universal finite-element model of slope and pipeline was established. The effects of water content and slope angle on the stability of permafrost slope were studied. The results show that March and April are the most stable months of the year, whereas September and October are the most dangerous months. The slope angle significantly influences the permafrost slope stability; the slope angle must be lower than 30°, and protective measures are necessary when the slope is greater than 30°. The increase of water content decreases the slope stability.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the sponsorship of this work by Sichuan Science and Technology Program (No. 2019YJ0400), Open Fund (PLN201818) of State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation (Southwest Petroleum University), the Opening Project of Material Corrosion and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province (2021CL08), and the Young Scholars Development Fund of SWPU (Grant No. 201699010002).
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Published In
Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice
Volume 13 • Issue 4 • November 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 1, 2020
Accepted: May 9, 2022
Published online: Jul 21, 2022
Published in print: Nov 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Dec 21, 2022
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