The research was divided into three basic stages. The first one was the analysis of the gas pipeline design aimed at determining pipeline's resistance to continuous deformations of the ground (3.1). A method for evaluating the resistance of the gas pipelines in areas staying under a strong negative influence of continuous ground deformations has been presented in this paper. Another stage of the prediction lied in predicting continuous surface deformations generated by the planned extraction and finding factors deciding about the hazard (3.2). The third (major) part of the research was working out a fuzzy representation of variables characterizing continuous deformations of terrain, resistance of the gas pipeline and risk of pipeline’s failure (3.3). Fuzzy variables were incorporated in Mamdani inference block, on the basis of which the probability of failure occurrence in time could be determined.
3.1. Evaluation of resistance of gas pipeline
The resistance of a gas pipeline was defined on the basis of assumptions presented in the technical project and the approximated point method (Tables 1 and 2).
The analysis of strength parameters of materials allows for determining boundary values of horizontals deformations, which will not create hazard for the steel pipe. The boundary deformations could be described on the basis Hook's law and the tensile strength defined in laboratory conditions for each material (Table 1). The assumed average of linear elasticity for all types of steel equaled to E ≈2.1 105MPa.
Table 1. List of strength parameters for particular types of steel
No. of material
|
Type
|
Yield point
|
Tensile strength
|
Elongation at axial disrupture
|
Bending testing
|
Tensile strength
|
EN10027-2
|
wg EN
|
ReH min MPa
|
Rm min MPa
|
A5 min %
|
KV J/ºC
|
εmax
mm/m
|
EN 10208-2 (DIN 17172) transmission steel pipes for gas and combustible media – B class
|
1.0429
|
L 290 MB
|
290-440
|
415
|
21
|
40
|
1.98
|
1.0578
|
L 360 MB
|
360-510
|
460
|
20
|
40
|
2.19
|
1.8973
|
L 415 MB
|
415-565
|
520
|
18
|
40
|
2.48
|
The calculated boundary minimum value of horizontal strains for steel L290 MB equaled to 1.98 mm/m, and maximally to 2.48 mm/m.
The strength parameters have been analyzed in laboratory conditions and on this basis only the resistance of the gas pipeline sections could be defined. Attention should be paid to the fact that in the case of gas network, the linear objects are interconnected and cooperate with other elements of the installation (e.g. compensators). The evaluation of the resistance of the gas pipeline only on the basis of strength parameters gives an incomplete picture of the actual resistance of a given object to the impact of continuous surface deformations. Therefore an approximated method was worked out thanks to which the resistance of the linear technological infrastructure can be evaluated with respect to continuous surface deformations. This method was based on statistical data relating to the observed failures in networks placed in the mining areas in relation to horizontal deformations, which occurred there (Mendecet al. 1997). The strength of a gas network is evaluated on the basis of an analysis of four attributes characteristic of the object (Table 2). Each of the four attributes is ascribed one property with a point value. Finally, the resistance of a given object is evaluated from the sum of points. The presented method can be used for evaluating hazard both of newly erected objects and the already existing ones. The planned object was to be made of steel with compensation. The number of connections per 100 meters will not exceed 100, and the condition of the newly erected object will be very good (Table 2).
Table 2. Resistance classification of water supply networks – point method (Mendec et al., 1997)
|
Risk factor
|
|
No. of points
|
1
|
Material
|
PE
|
0-10
|
Cast iron or steel
|
10-15
|
PVC
|
15-20
|
A
|
20-30
|
2
|
Compensation
|
Pipe socket
|
0-10
|
Compensators
|
10-20
|
No compensators
|
20-30
|
3
|
Type and number of connections
|
< 1 connection/100 m
|
0-10
|
1-3 connections/ 100 m
|
10-20
|
3-5 connections/100 m
|
20-30
|
>5 connections/100 m
|
30-40
|
4
|
Technical condition
|
Very good
|
0-10
|
Good
|
10-20
|
Acceptable
|
20-30
|
Poor
|
30-40
|
5
|
Number of points
|
0-24
|
25-48
|
49-80
|
>80
|
6
|
Resistance category
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
7
|
Admissible horizontal strain [mm/m]
|
9.0
|
6.0
|
3.0
|
1.5
|
The preliminary assumptions connected with planning a gas pipeline allowed for defining its resistance to the mining impact with the use of the approximated point method. Bearing in mind the material assumptions, technical condition, planned compensation and number of connections, the pipeline will be ascribed the resistance category 2. This means that horizontal deformations up to 3.0 mm/m do not represent a hazard to a given object. Ultimately the predicted horizontal strain of 3.0 mm/m was assumed as harmfulness criterion for further analyses.
3.2. Evaluation of hazard of terrain with continuous deformations
Continuous deformations of surface generated by underground mining activity are predicted on the basis of stochastic or geomechanical methods. Bearing in mind the scale and complexity of the problem, the prediction of continuous deformations was performed on the basis of modified Knothe theory for copper ores (Knothe 1954). In this method continuous ground deformations can be characterized by such deformation indices as subsidence of terrain, tilt and horizontal deformations. This prognostic method has been used in many countries where surface deformations have to be predicted in areas with on-going mining extraction underground (Cui et al. 2000, Knothe 1954, Hejmanowski 2001, Malinowska&Hejmanowski 2010, Marschalko et al. 2012).
Prerequisite investigation has reviled that domination risk factors causing failure of pipeline networks in areas subjected to significant ground deformation are (Hejmanowski et al. 2014 Malinowska & Hejmanowski 2015, Malinowska et al. 2016):
- axial horizontal strain, ε, (Fig. 2),
- principal horizontal strain εg1 εg2 (Fig. 2).
3.3. Risk modeling for gas supply pipelines with fuzzy logic application
The potential mining-induced risk could be determined on the basis of information about predicted continuous deformations of surface and the assumed resistance of the planned pipeline. The research was based on the fuzzy set theory (Zadeh 1965). The risk was evaluated with Mandami fuzzy model, which allows for connecting deformation risk factors with the strength of the planned pipeline in one inference block. In its original version, the model was worked out for areas staying under the influence of hard coal extraction, where the continuous deformations reached as much as 9.0 mm/m (Malinowska&Hejmanowski 2015). No such surface deformations have been observed in the study area, therefore the risk level is lower. On the other hand the risk level is high when we consider the significance of the object and the losses due to potential failure of the pipeline.
The first stage of fuzzy inference was determining entry and output variables of the model. Three linguistic entry variables of the model were determined.
-predicted axial horizontal strain ε (in mm/m),
-predicted principal horizontal strains εg1 , εg2 (in mm/m),
-resistance of gas pipeline PR (defined by points ascribed to linear objects on the basis of approximated point method (Table 2).
For the sake of defining entry variables, the risk of pipeline's failure occurrence was re-defined and expressed in point scale R.
The second step of the research was definition of the universe of discourse and linguistic values for these variables. The predicted extreme horizontal strains were assumed to equal to [0,9] mm/m; the resistance of the gas pipeline expressed in points (point method) could theoretically assume values from 0 to 100 points. The output variable, i.e. risk of pipeline failure occurrence, was characterized by points which may take values from 0 to 100. Linguistic values described by triangular-shaped membership functions were defined for each of the variables (Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5) .
Four linguistic values were defined for surface deformations (axial and principal) of terrain:
ε/ εg1, εg2={ VL (Very low), L (Low), M (Medium), H (High)}
The resistance of the gas pipeline was also described by four linguistic values:
PR ={ VL (Very low), L (Low), M (Medium), H (High)}
The risk of pipeline failure occurrence was described by four triangular-shaped membership functions defined by the following linguistic values:
R={ L (Very low), M (Medium), H (High), VH (Very high)}
The third and the most important stage in the fuzzy inference modeling was the rule base creation. This is the most significant element of the fuzzy model, a core of the model. The shape of the resultant surface depends on the rules in the base. Input variables are connected in the inference block by implication rules (Table 3). Rules of if...then type allow for logical inferring: if axial strains or principal strains are high and the resistance of the pipeline is low, then the risk of failure will be very high.
The value of each linguistic value has been described by triangular-shaped membership function.
Table 3. Rule base in inference Mamdani model coupling input and output variables
|
|
ε/ εg1, εg2
|
PR
|
|
|
VL
|
L
|
M
|
H
|
VL
|
VeryLow
|
VeryLow
|
VeryLow
|
Moderate
|
L
|
VeryLow
|
VeryLow
|
Moderate e
|
High
|
M
|
Very Low
|
Moderate
|
High
|
Very High
|
H
|
Moderate
|
High
|
Very High
|
Very High
|
Using fuzzy sets, connected by logic rules, authors could define the final risk surface, and on this basis assess the risk of the planned pipeline (Fig. 6).