| Buried pipelines are primarily used by petrochemical industry in North America for transporting oil and derivatives. However, these pipelines are subjected to large deformations resulting from various factors such as: geotechnical movements, temperature effects, internal fluid pressure. Exceeding the critical deformation limit of the pipes initiates wrinkles and further increase may result in tearing type failure.;This research program was designed to simulate the tearing fracture of the pipes. Therefore, six specimens with two types of pipes having different wall thickness, length and diameter were tested under axial load, bending moment and internal pressure. Initially pressurized pipes were bended to create a wrinkle on the compression face and curvature was locked at a specific value. After that, pipes were loaded axially under constant curvature and pressure, to grow the wrinkle around the circumference and create a tearing type of failure. |
