A device for the simulation of soil loads on pipe sections

摘要

An apparatus and method is described herein which simulates and applies soil shear stress conditions to test pipe segments and thereby induces the mechanical soil stress effects upon adherent pipeline anti- corrosion protective coatings. A test pipe segment having an adherent anti-corrosion protective coating is emplaced centrally in a test apparatus housing chamber, having both a concentrically-located soil reservoir in contiguous contact with said test pipe segment, and a gas pressure reservoir surrounding said soil reservoir. Desired movements of said test pipe segment are controlled and regulated by a universal testing machine. Gas pressures in the gas pressure reservoir exerts pressure on the soil reservoir, thereby simulating soil stress forces on the centrally disposed pipe segment with its adherent anti-corrosion coating. In addition, the present apparatus and method can readily be used to determine the relative effects of soil shear stress forces on pipeline anti-corrosion coatings as a function of internal pipeline operating temperatures.