AT A time when industrial growth is on the upswing and an increasing numbers of pipeline projects are being commissioned, professors from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, has some advice.
Senior professors of the institute’s Civil Engineering Department spoke of the need to introduce seismic designs while laying underground pipelines.
Speaking at the seven-day short course on ‘seismic design of buried pipelines,’ head of the Civil Engineering Department Dr Bithin Dutta said the number of pipeline projects in the country was increasing fast due to industrial growth. But as India also fell under the sensitive seismic zone, it was essential that proper care be taken to lay down such lines to avoid greater risks to life and property.
Dr Durgesh C Rai said while designing water, gas and oil pipelines requirements of earthquake resistant structures had not been made. Fortunately, severe earthquakes in recent years did not cause major damage to these lines, he said.
He said many of the pipelines criss-crossed fault zones and if earthquakes damaged them there could be major loss to life in the area. He said even pipelines passing through cities did not earthquake resistant design. He said in the Gujarat quake, most of the water pipelines in the affected areas were destroyed and it took long time to repair them.
{{/usCountry}}He said many of the pipelines criss-crossed fault zones and if earthquakes damaged them there could be major loss to life in the area. He said even pipelines passing through cities did not earthquake resistant design. He said in the Gujarat quake, most of the water pipelines in the affected areas were destroyed and it took long time to repair them.
{{/usCountry}}He suggested that pipelines be made earthquake resistant by connecting them with flexible connectors, sensitive regulatory valves and better support designs.
He said as we could not afford overground pipelines for security reasons, it was necessary to develop viable techniques to lay safe underground pipelines.
Dr CVR Murthy stressed on the need of simulation in designing pipelines for various purposes.