PR-218-104509-R01 Field Validation of Surface Loading Stress Calculations for Buried Pipelines

The objective for this two phase project was to validate surface loading criterion for pipelines with shallow burial. This is the report of the first phase of this project which focused on field measurements of the stress in shallow buried pipe while it is being crossed by heavy equipment. During the second phase, this data will be compared with the predictions of the most prevalent models currently used for surface load stress analysis for pipelines with shallow cover. The objective of the two phase study is to have a validated model for surface loading of shallow buried pipe. In the phase I, Kiefner and Associates, Inc. instrumented three buried pipe segments at the Spectra Energy Berne Station in Southeastern Ohio. The station was PRCI approved. The line was instrumented with strain gauges in order to make direct measurements of the stress in the pipeline as heavy equipment crosses over the pipeline. The data generated in this first phase and, if necessary, additional data from a second phase will be compared with the current Spangler, Iowa and CEPA models used for surface load stress analysis during the second phase.