Submarine Landslides: Effects of Seafloor Roughness and Flow Velocity on Pipeline Impact Loads
Submarine Landslides: Effects of Seafloor Roughness and Flow Velocity on Pipeline Impact Loads
This study investigates the impact forces generated by submarine debris flows on subsea pipelines using geotechnical centrifuge modeling. The main objective was to analyze how variations in debris flow velocity influence pipeline loading. Landslide velocity was controlled by applying sandpapers with different roughness grades to the slope surface. Flow velocity was measured using ramp-mounted instrumentation synchronized with high-speed video recordings. Prior to each experiment, T-bar penetration tests were conducted to determine the undrained shear strength (Su) of the mud, using a dedicated compartment filled with mud identical to the material prepared for the landslide. Pipeline impact forces were quantified through strain gauges installed on calibrated support rods. The experimental results demonstrated a strong relationship between flow velocity, flow morphology, and the resulting impact forces on pipelines. The findings agree with trends reported in the literature and emphasize the need to account for substrate roughness and debris flow velocity in risk assessment and the design of subsea infrastructure, improving the safety and reliability of submarine pipeline systems.
Fernando Saboya; Cassia Melo; Sergio Tibana; Rodrigo Reis; Jose Mauricio Ferreira; Ricardo Garske
11th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG2026)
Session 3: Resilient geotechnical infrastructure
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICPMG2026-176