Reliability analysis of buried polyethylene pipeline subject to traffic loads

• Published in: Advances in mechanical engineering Vol. 11; no. 10
• Main Authors: Si Xi, Zha, Ying, Wu, Peng Wei, Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.10.2019; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Buried pipes; Computer simulation; Degradation; Failure rates; Finite element method; Gas pipelines; Interaction models; Loads (forces); Mathematical analysis; Mechanical properties; Monte Carlo simulation; Natural gas; Pavements; Pipelines; Polyethylene; Polyethylenes; Random variables; Reliability analysis; Stress concentration; Traffic models; Urban areas; Polyethylene pipeline; central point method; Monte Carlo; traffic loads; reliability index
• ISSN: 1687-8132; 1687-8140
• DOI: 10.1177/1687814019883785

Due to the increasing number of vehicles in urban areas and the degradation of pavement performance, the failure rate of polyethylene pipeline, across roads, has increased rapidly. Based on relevant data, the traffic loads are regarded as a random variable; also its distribution is determined. First, the nonlinear contact interaction model was established, among traffic loads, soil and buried polyethylene pipeline, using finite element analysis software. Second, considering the decline of the pavement performance, the mechanical characteristics of buried gas pipeline suffering from different traffic loads were analyzed. Based on statistics of vehicle load, the distribution law of its maximum equivalent stress was determined by numerical simulation. Particularly, the strength distribution law of polyethylene pipeline was obtained through experiments. The reliability index of polyethylene pipeline was calculated using central point method and Monte Carlo method. Finally, based on the degradation curve of pavement performance, the remaining life of buried polyethylene pipeline was assessed.