The Application of Strain-Based Design to Pipelines and the Requirements on Pipe Materials Available to Purchase

With the sharply rising demand of oil and gas, the pipeline industry has been experiencing a rapid development in recent years. Pipelines in the areas of ground movement from slope instability, seismic sideslip, loess collapse, mining subsidence, frost heave and thaw settlement in discontinuous permafrost can experience displacement-controlled plastic strain. The current paper describes the application of strain-based design of pipelines and introduces relevant codes, standards, and criteria of other countries. Some major issues in strain-based design such as geologic conditions, strain limits, mechanical performance, etc., are mentioned. The prospect of strain-based design of pipelines is discussed with reference to the geologic conditions and the state of the pipeline industry. Finally the requirements on parameters of line pipe materials, including yield stress, yield and tensile strength ratio, stress ratio, weld mismatch, anisotropy etc., and their influence on strain-based design are discussed.