This paper on "A Pipeline Model for Accidental Impact" was presented at the NAFEMS World Congress on Design, Simulation & Optimisation: Reliability & Applicability of Computational Methods - 9-11 April 1997, Stuttgart, Germany.

Summary

This paper describes the evolution of a finite element pipeline model used to determine the response of a pipe when impacted by a dropped object. The model is designed to be used with deformable elastic-plastic soil and elastic-plastic dropped object models to assess their individual and combined effects on pipeline deformation. The pipeline problem alone is complex and includes four distinct non-linearities: material, geometric, boundary and loading. Initial analysis has concentrated on the development of a quasi-statically loaded pipe model, experiencing all four non-linearities, the results from this model have been verified against experimentally derived results to assess the model's accuracy. In addition a parametric study is reported which investigates the influence of pipe geometrical variables such as diameter. length and wall thickness, on the pipe response.