Limit analysis and finite element evaluation of lateral pipe-soil interaction resistance

lateral breakout soil resistance of pipelines supported on undrained cohesive soils determined from limit analysis and finite element methods are compared for a linearly increasing soil strength profile. The limit analysis solution is based on an upper-bound technique. The finite element solutions are developed from coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian simulations. The capacities determined by the two methodologies are in close agreement for the perfectly plastic soil conditions. The relative ease with which the limit analysis solutions are obtained allows rapid investigation of the implications of uncertainty of the soil shear strength profile and pipe embedment via Monte Carlo simulations. Monte Carlo simulations illustrate the implications of correlated random variables describing the shear strength profile and pipe embedment.