Mechanical behavior of PCCPs with broken wires under complex service conditions

Abstract Buried prestressed concrete cylinder pipes (PCCPs) are subjected to the combined effects of soil cover loads, internal water pressure, and additional loads. However, there is scarce research on their mechanical performance under complex service conditions after being buried. In this study, 3D nonlinear finite element (FE) models of PCCPs and soils, along with fluid models, were developed using ABAQUS and FLUENT, respectively. Fluid–solid coupling numerical simulations of PCCPs with broken wires under complex service conditions were conducted using the MpCCI platform. The study focused on investigating the mechanical behaviors of PCCP pipes with broken wires, aiming to determine the effects of different numbers and locations of broken wires, as well as the magnitude of operating water pressure. The results shows that the number of broken wires is a crucial factor affecting the mechanical behaviors of the PCCPs; the dynamic variation of internal pressure within the pipe can cause further damage to PCCPs with pre-existing defects; when wire breakage occurs alone the springline of the PCCPs, the outer concrete core exhibited a tendency to crack before the inner concrete core. Conversely, when wire breaks occurred at the crown and invert, the inner concrete core cracked before the outer concrete core. These results provide valuable insights into the behavior of PCCPs under complex conditions and contribute to the understanding of their structural integrity. The findings can aid in the development of improved design and maintenance strategies for PCCPs, ensuring their reliable performance in underground applications.