Pipeline Response to Seismic Displacement at Balboa Boulevard during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 2
Abstract
Seismic displacement at Balboa Boulevard during the 1994 Northridge earthquake ruptured a high-pressure natural gas transmission pipeline, a natural gas distribution line, and two pressurized water trunk lines. Three other natural gas transmission pipelines and an oil transmission pipeline were not damaged. This paper presents the available geologic, geotechnical, and groundwater data at the site and summarizes past research efforts studying the seismic displacement during the Northridge earthquake. Characteristics and engineering properties of the pipelines and the soil–pipeline interface, including data not previously published in the public domain, are investigated and summarized. The pipe strains are estimated using an analytical model that accounts for the soil displacement pattern, nonlinear stress–strain characteristics of the pipe steel, and effects of bends and elbows. The expected pipeline performance compares well with the observed performance.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the California Energy Commission (CEC) during the development of the Open Seismic Risk Assessment (OpenSRA) software tool. The authors thank the CEC and specifically Yahui Yang, the CEC project manager, for supporting this research. Dr. Jennie Watson-Lamprey served as OpenSRA project manager for the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center team. Scott Lindvall of Lettis Consultants International and Dr. Daniel Hutabarat, postdoctoral scholar of University of California, Berkeley, were vital members of the ground failure research task team and their insights were of great help. Dr. Katerina Ziotopoulou of University of California, Davis and Dr. Craig Davis, formerly of LADWP, shared information and insights on their studies of the ground failure at Balboa Boulevard and the water trunk lines. This research was funded by the California Energy Commission.
Author contributions: All authors (1) were substantially involved in the analysis; (2) have made substantial contributions to the conception, writing, and editing of the draft for grammar and intellectual content; and (3) approve of this manuscript for publication.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 2 • February 2024
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 28, 2023
Accepted: Jul 31, 2023
Published online: Dec 7, 2023
Published in print: Feb 1, 2024
Discussion open until: May 7, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Continuum mechanics
- Displacement (mechanics)
- Earthquake engineering
- Earthquakes
- Electric power
- Energy engineering
- Energy infrastructure
- Energy sources (by type)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Fuels
- Gas pipelines
- Geohazards
- Geotechnical engineering
- Infrastructure
- Lifeline systems
- Natural gas
- Non-renewable energy
- Petroleum
- Power transmission
- Seismic effects
- Seismic tests
- Solid mechanics
- Structural mechanics
- Tests (by type)
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