Elastic Buckling of Buried Flexible Tubes—A Review of Theory and Experiment

Theoretical models and experimental data for buried tube buckling are reviewed, and linear buckling solutions based on the elastic continuum model for the ground are selected as being most suitable for the design of buried flexible metal tubes. An examination of both theory and experiment confirms that maximum rather than average hoop thrust should be used to characterize the loads in the buried structure. Various scalar correction factors are recommended for use in calibrating the preferred buckling theory so that it can be used in the design of buried flexible tubes.