Dynamic response analysis of drainage pipes with gasketed bell and spigot joints subjected to traffic loads

In recent years, the road collapse accidents caused by the disasters of municipal drainage pipelines occurred frequently. The concrete pipe is the most widely used in municipal drainage, but its mechanical characteristics under the action of traffic loads are not clear. A three-dimensional numerical model for drainage pipe structures with gasketed bell and spigot joints is established using ABAQUS. The influences of different pulse amplitudes, load positions and pipe buried depths on the dynamic responses of drainage pipes are calculated and analyzed considering the bell, spigot, rubber and infinite element absorption boundary. The results show that the stresses on the joints are highly discontinuous, and the traffic loads have significant influences on the pipes within one pipe length at both sides of its position. The circumference of the bell and spigot is mainly subjected to tension and compression stress. The position of traffic loads has no significant effects on the maximum Mises stress in the crown, invert and springline, but has influences on the Mises stress distribution of the crown and invert. The longitudinal and circumferential stresses are proportional to the buried depth, however, the stress increment is inversely proportional to the depth one.