Physical Forces on Buried Pipeline Coatings

Physical forces activated when buried pipelines move relative to the soil can damage coatings. The problem is most common near bends and areas with poor backfill compaction. Most solutions are best implemented early in the design work when pipeline routes, alignments, and operating conditions are being selected. Solutions, in addition to the obvious one of increasing toughness and adhesion of coatings, include increasing radius of bends, avoiding unstable slopes, improving backfill operations, stabilizing operating conditions, and reducing operating pressures and temperatures.