Lateral Pipe–Soil Interaction in Sand with Reference to Scale Effect

This paper investigates the pipe–soil interaction for pipes buried in cohesionless soil when subjected to lateral ground movement. A review and reappraisal of the literature is conducted to identify some inconsistencies and shortcomings of previous studies. The effects of model scale, stress level (via burial depth), burial depth ratio, and soil properties are systematically addressed through finite element analyses. The study concludes that the effects of pipe size and burial depth must be taken into account to properly estimate the maximum pipe–soil interaction forces induced by lateral ground movement. A unique equation considering scale and the effect of burial depth is proposed to determine the maximum pipe– soil interaction forces at various burial depth ratios.