Soil-structure interaction for deeply buried corrugated steel pipes Part I: Embankment installation

Abstract

The strengths of buried corrugated steel pipes were studied. There are considerable differences in the fundamental mechanics of earth pressure distribution on rigid pipes and flexible pipes. Corrugated steel pipes are categorized as semi-flexible. The mechanics of soil arching for corrugated steel pipes, therefore, are slightly different from rigid or flexible pipes. Predictor equations for arching factors, deflections, and maximum wall stresses of the corrugated steel pipes were formulated using numerically generated data from soil–structure models. These predictor equations, thus obtained, were compared with currently available equations in order to assess their validity and applicability. A pipe–spring model was used for buckling analyses. The spring coefficients in the pipe–spring model were calculated using the static analyses of soil–structure models. The ultimate and/or critical strengths determined from this study compare well with those from American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) buckling equations.