L52048 Evaluation of the Interaction of Mechanical Damage on Welds

Failures in transmission pipelines are often the result of mechanical damage. The US DOT has indicated that 20 to 40 percent of the serious pipeline incidents in any given year are related to mechanical damage. This damage is due to third party activities, mishandling during construction, pipeline bedding material consolidation, or ground movement.

This project report includes a discussion of the following work: Development of a criteria for weld interaction with restrained rock dents, pipe ovality and wrinkles; Development of a means of considering pressure fluctuation severity in these criteria, and Development of guidance and recommendations on how to consider the effects of soil confinement.