Use of Scaled Models to Evaluate Reinforcement Efficiency in Damaged Main Gas Pipelines to Prevent Avalanche Failure

This research extends ongoing efforts to develop methods for reinforcing damaged main gas pipelines to prevent catastrophic failure. This study establishes the use of scaled-down experimental models for assessing the dynamic strength of damaged pipeline sections reinforced with wire wrapping or composite sleeves. A generalized dynamic model is introduced for numerical simulation to evaluate the effectiveness of reinforcement techniques. The model incorporates the elastoplastic behavior of pipe and wire materials, the influence of temperature on mechanical properties, the contact interaction between the pipe and the reinforcement components (including pretensioning), and local material failure under transient internal pressure. Based on these parameters, a finite element model was developed using ANSYS 19.2 to enable parametric studies. The accuracy of the proposed model was verified by comparing the simulation results with the experimental findings. Pipeline section samples containing non-penetrating longitudinal cracks were subjected to comparative analyses and transient pressure until critical failure. The unreinforced and steel wire-wrapped sections were investigated. The results confirm the feasibility of applying the computational model to study the dynamic strength of reinforced damaged pipe sections. Furthermore, pipelines with longitudinal cracks reinforced using circular composite overlays with orthotropic mechanical properties were examined, and recommendations are provided for selecting the geometric parameters of such overlays.