Dynamics of soil erosion due to underground pipeline fractures: A transparent soil study under varied hydraulic conditions

Abstract

This investigation explores the erosion dynamics in sandy soils triggered by underground pipeline fractures, applying transparent soil technology for visualization. Through this approach, the erosion process within the transparent soil model was meticulously recorded using photography, enabling the quantitative analysis of collapse pit dimensions over time. Results reveal that soil erosion primarily manifests directly above the pipeline fracture, varying significantly with hydraulic conditions. In scenarios devoid of water flow within the pipeline, an increase in collapse pit depth is halted, attributed to the accumulation and blockage of soil particles at the fracture point. Contrastingly, under half-pipe and full-pipe flow conditions, the depth of the collapse pit swiftly reaches the fracture site. The flow of water notably escalates the expansion rate of the erosion pit, especially above the rupture, leading to continuous enlargement of the central area and subsequent secondary and tertiary collapses at the pit’s apex. The study further identifies the impact of water flow on soil scouring near the pipeline rupture, with pronounced effects in full-pipe flow, predominantly ahead of the rupture point, and less significant impacts observed in half-pipe flow scenarios. Differential image analysis facilitated the categorization of soil into distinct zones: collapsed, loosened, stable, and eroded, with a direct correlation observed between the extent of the loosened zone and the velocity of water flow.