Nonlinear finite-element analysis of soil-pipe interaction for laterally-loaded buried offshore pipelines

Secure transportation of oil and gas over large distances means that steel pipes need to pass through different regions and conditions in order to reach onshore processing plants. The long distance, on which the pipelines lay, implies that the pipe material is subjected to a variety of weather conditions and associated temperatures. In an event of submarine landslide, the pipe may be subjected to large lateral force due to moving ground. Different parameters affect lateral movements and uplift of the pipes and their effects need to be addressed carefully. This paper presents a numerical study using nonlinear coupled hydro-mechanical finite element analysis aiming to investigate the effects of loading rate, hydraulic boundary conditions and soil strength on the soil-structure interaction involved in lateral movements of pipelines.