System for Increasing the Seismic Safety of Pipelines in the Water Supply and Distribution Networks

Abstract

Seismic activity of small, medium or high intensity has a destructive effect on existing water supply and distribution networks. In the scholar literature, these are included in Class I—Vital Performance Systems, whose operation must be uninterrupted in case of a seismic event. Water networks are also essential for the safe operation of certain critical subsystems in the event of an earthquake (fire-extinguishing systems, etc.), in order to avoid loss of human lives, reduce adverse environmental impacts and limit damage caused by fires. The article proposes a seismic safety system for the water transport pipelines obtained by designing, executing and testing an experimental design, a system that can be used to increase the seismic resilience of the water supply and distribution network pipelines. The experimental data obtained were verified on the basis of the theoretical data available in the literature. The results of the research are particularly useful and can be proposed for use from the stage of designing new networks to providing expertise for existing networks, for establishing the most-stressed areas in which to be installed, and for implementing both execution and at the same time rehabilitation and upgrading.