Theoretical Approbation of the Method for Evaluating Bending Stress of Underground Pipelines from the Ground Surface

Abstract

The feature of the operation of main underground pipelines in complicated engineering and geological conditions is the need for constant monitoring of their technical condition and the design position of the axis to assess the level of bending stress in order to take preventive measures. The existing methods for monitoring the technical condition of underground pipelines have several disadvantages, for this reason, as a rule, a set of methods is used. One of the promising methods for assessing the bending stress of underground pipelines is the method of surveying the depth of the pipeline axis from the ground surface. The paper provides dependencies that make it possible to level the errors arising when using this method and to assess the bending stress of an underground pipeline with an error not exceeding the specified one and taking into account the design features of the pipeline and the equipment used. Comparison of the calculated values of bending stress when using the method of surveying the depth of the axis of an underground pipeline from the ground surface and the values obtained during smart pigging of a section of an underground pipeline is presented. The provisions for determining the optimal shooting step when measuring the depth of the pipeline axis from the soil surface are presented.