Full-scale laboratory testing of a buried pipeline in sand subjected to cyclic axial displacements

This paper describes a full-scale laboratory study of the axial sliding behaviour of a trenched pipeline surrounded by sand backfill. Cyclic axial displacements are applied to a heavy pipe buried in a narrow trench (less than three pipe diameters wide), using various backfill cover depths and two different soils: dry Hostun sand and a damp, silty sand. A novel testing tank is employed, with compressible foam seals to allow the pipe to settle as...