Dear Experts,

For buried pipeline, We understand that VAL is a length of pipe where the expansion is completely suppressed by soil longitudinal resistance force. And based on this We can stop modelling buried pipe up to this point.

Now, for example we have L shape buried pipe line. Then we stop modelling up to VAL point. When We put anchor block at L elbow (with some adjustment. ie. allow anchor block to move 2 mm). Is the load (Loadcase: OPE) from this anchor block is valid to inform to civil dept?

We have tried to verified LC Peng example from his book with caesar and we got VAL value is different (since as far as we know Caesar basic modeller using LC Peng approach for buried pipe).

Thank You for sharing.

I believe the CAESAR II calculation of VAL is the same as the equation listed in the Peng book. The program lists this value during the generation of the buried model.

Since CAESAR II uses a flexible axial restraint to model friction rather than a rigid-then-free (stick-slip) restraint, the CAESAR II results will show a longer length of straight pipe is required to lock in the potential growth of the line.

By the way, CAESAR II has two soil models: 1) the Peng method (from his article in Pipe Line Industry magazine) and 2) the American Lifelines Alliance.

Please see
http://65.57.255.42/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=30861&page=all
which includes a discussion on VAL.

Best regards