The Performance of Thames Water Pipeline at the Kullar Fault Crossing

Abstract

This paper summarizes the earthquake performance of the welded steel Thames water transmission pipeline which was crossing the Kullar fault in the 1999 Kocaeli earthquake. The pipe suffered wrinkling damage at three locations (two major and one minor) due to net compression which was caused by the right lateral movement of the fault. However, it still managed to stay in service in the aftermath of the earthquake. It is known to be one of the best documented pipe failure cases due to fault displacement hazard. A 3D nonlinear analysis of the pipe-soil interaction system is utilized to investigate the effects of both native and artificial backfill soils. The failure mode and limit state of pipe for compressive and tensile strains are mentioned. The rotation and displacement demands at the wrinkles due to incrementally applied fault displacements are calculated. Results are compared with the field observations. Recommendations are provided to mitigate earthquake risk and for safe operation of similar critical infrastructures against fault displacement hazards.