Numerical Analyses for Centrifugal Reinforced Concrete Pipe Loaded by Internal Loading Method

Abstract

The Internal Loading Method (ILM) has been proposed as a way to evaluate the strength of buried pipes. The evaluation criteria must be determined through constructing a numerical analysis model that can simulate behavior of buried pipes. In this study, the ILM was applied to centrifugal reinforced concrete (RC) pipe sitting on ground, and the proper boundary support settings for 3D elasto-plastic finite element analysis were examined. In addition, we tried to calculate the elastic modulus from the relation between the experimentally and numerically obtained values for load and deformation. The results showed that the stress state under loading could be analyzed accurately by assuming nonlinear springs under the pipe. In addition, the accuracy of analysis for the behavior of the RC pipe can be improved by using the calculated elastic modulus for the analysis. Finally, we confirmed that there is a possibility accruing flexural cracks on two directions of the RC pipe in case of excessive loading.