Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior and Life Prediction Analysis of Buried Pipelines with Circumferential Cracks under Vehicular Loads

Meng Yang; Meng Yuan; Yanhua Chen

doi:10.6919/ICJE.202509_11(9).0001

Authors

Meng Yang
Meng Yuan
Yanhua Chen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6919/ICJE.202509_11(9).0001

Keywords:

Buried Pipeline; Fatigue Crack; Vehicle Load; Stress Intensity Factor; Numerical Simulation.

Abstract

With the increasing prevalence of urban roads intersecting with underground pipelines, fatigue failure of buried pipelines induced by vehicular loads has become increasingly prominent. To clarify the crack growth behavior, identify the most critical crack locations, and assess the remaining service life of buried pipelines containing circumferential cracks under cyclic vehicular loading, an ABAQUS-FRANC3D co-simulation approach was employed to investigate fatigue crack propagation. By comparing the effects of different crack positions (top/bottom/side surfaces, inner/outer surfaces), the study analyzed their influence on crack-tip stress intensity factors (K), crack propagation morphology, and pipeline life. Key conclusions are: For circumferential cracks, regardless of location, propagation initially occurs primarily along the circumferential direction before extending axially. Cracks located at the inner side surfaces exhibit higher propagation risk and are more prone to failure. Inner surface cracks generally endure fewer load cycles before failure compared to outer surface cracks.

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