NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- The Role of Corrosion in the Seismic Performance of Buried Steel Pipelines in Three United States Earthquakes.
- File
- PB285725.pdf
- Author(s)
- Isenberg, J.
- Source
- National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. Applied Science and Research Applications., June 1978, 85 p.
- Abstract
- This study considers the effects of corrosion on the seismic performance of underground water pipelines in three U.S. earthquakes: 1965 Puget Sound, Washington; 1969 Santa Rosa, California; and 1971 San Fernando, California. Seismic performance depends on soil conditions, intensity of ground shaking, surges in internal pressure, the diameter and wall thickness of the pipe, and the strengths of materials used in the pipe and its joints. The report concentrates on steel pipe damage in regions where the maximum ground displacements are of the order of 10 cm. Numerous leaks in the pipes were traced to local weaknesses caused by corrosion. Some evidence suggests that the likelihood of earthquake-induced leakage may be estimated from leak rate under normal conditions; however, inadequate data in the three earthquakes studied does not permit correlation. The corrosion control programs used by the utilities whose earthquake experience is reported in the study are briefly discussed. They consist of wrapping and cathodic protection, and replacement of corroded pipe with non-corroding asbestos-cement pipe.
- Keywords
- Puget Sound; Damage; Earth movements; Corrosion; Steels; Santa Rosa Earthquake; San Fernando Earthquake; Subsurface structures; Earthquake resistant structures; Corrosion prevention; California; Metal pipe; Water pipelines; Leakage; Piping systems; Underground corrosion; Steel construction; Ground motion; Earthquake engineering; Washington (State); Pipelines; Earthquakes