RESPONSE OF PIPELINE STRUCTURE SUBJECTED TO GROUND MOTION EXCITATION

A computational scheme is developed based on a wave scattering mechani sm to determine the response of a pipeline structure under earthquake excitations. The pipeline structure is modelled as a waveguide, consis ting of uniform members, intermediate constraints and boundaries. The compatibility conditions are met without additional effort because all the structural components are treated equally in the wave description . The ground motion received at supports is also converted to a wavefo rm so that its effects on structural vibration can be estimated proper ly. A unified wave scattering description of all the structural compon ents makes it possible to determine the pipeline response systematical ly without approximations. The merit of the present approach is especi ally perceivable in the case where a pipeline has an extensive length with several types of intermediate constraints. Computational efficien cy is a merit of this approach. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.