Section 6 : Hobbs Upheaval Buckling Method Upheaval Buckling Upheaval buckling occurs because of the combination of an initial vertical

out of straightness, and axial load due to temperature and pressure. The initial out of straightness is often caused by an object such as a boulder or other obstruction lying under the pipe as a prop, but can also be caused by trench transitions and other installation effects. When the axial load reaches the initiation load, the pipe will suddenly buckle upwards. Upheaval Buckle Profile The upheaval buckle profile of a pipe lying on a prop is shown in the figure below. The pipe prop profile with no axial load is shown by the black line. As the axial load on the pipe increases due to temperature and pressure, the pipe profile shortens until it reaches the buckle initiation point shown by the green line. The pipe will then buckle upwards. The post buckle profile is shown by the red line.

Buckle Axial Load Profile The buckle axial load profile is shown in the figure below.

When the pipe buckles, the axial load in the buckle zone is reduced. There is a slip zone on either side of the buckle zone. At some distance from the buckle the axial load in the pipe is equal to the fully restrained axial load. The axial loads are compressive and negative.

Upheaval Buckle Calculations The upheaval buckling initiation conditions are calculated by: `Li = ( ( u * EI ) / ( k4 * W ) )^(1/4)` `Ni = - ( k1 * EI ) / (Li^2)` `BMi = - k5 * W * Li^2` `Nr = Ni - (W * Li) / (EI) * sqrt(( k2 * EA * W * a * Li^5 - 0.25 * ( a * EI )^2 ))` where: `Li` = buckle length at initiation `u` = initial vertical out of straightness or prop height

`EI` = pipe bending stiffness `BMi` = maximum bending moment at initiation `W` = pipe unit weight `Ni` = axial load in the buckle zone at initiation `Nr` = fully restrained axial load away from the buckle zone `EA` = pipe axial stiffness `a` = axial pipe soil friction coefficient The k constants have the following values: `k1` `k2` `k3` `k4` `k5` = = = = = 80.76 1.597e-5 1.0 2.408e-3 0.06938

The upheaval buckling post buckle conditions are calculated by solving: `Np = -(k1 * EI) / (Lp)^2` `Lp = (( ((-Nr + Np) * EI / (W * Lp))^2 + 0.25 * (a * EI)^2) / (k2 * EA * W * a))^(1/5)` `p = (k4 * W * Lp^4) / (EI)` `BMp = - k5 * W * Lp^2` where: `Np` = axial load in the buckle zone post buckle `Lp` = buckle length post buckle `p` = buckle amplitude post buckle `BMp` = maximum bending moment post buckle Check that the convergence is close to or equal to 1.