NC Research
Research Areas
Our team is focused on solving industry challenges through focused research. Our team’s current research topics include advanced-soil interactions for buried pipelines, advanced topics in pipeline geo-hazard risks, and hydrogen embrittlement of high-strength carbon steel pipelines. We are always interested in discussing problems that can not be solved in routine capital projects due to time constraints. Our work shows that these problems can be solved, and the outcome often results in significant improvement to infrastructure reliability or operational efficiencies.
Northern Crescent has developed in-house engineering tools to increase the accuracy of the pipeline design resulting in fewer revisions. Our team considers a full life cycle 360-degree approach to provide fit-for-purpose designs for your pipeline applications.
Want to Discuss Your Reoccurring Operational or Infrastructural Issues?
Feel free to contact Us. Northern Crescent will be happy to provide no-obligation consultation and, if required, develop a research proposal.
Our Publications
Numerical assessment of dented pipe using inline inspection data
The current finite element (FE) assessment methods of dented pipes are based on specific dent profiles, which are generally created based on the shape of indenters. However, the actual dent profile in real case scenarios is mostly irregular in shape, depending on the cause of damage. In this...
Streamlining the GIS to CAD workflow for automated pipeline alignment sheet generation
The use of Geographic Information System (GIS) in managing pipeline database and automating routine engineering processes has become a standard practice in the pipeline industry. While maintaining a central database provides security, integrity, and easy management of data throughout the...
Effects of slope grade on soil-pipe interaction: full-scale experiments
In the current industry practice guidelines, the soil restraints to assess the behaviour of pipelines subject to permanent ground displacements are numerically characterized using independent “soil springs”. These guidelines have been primarily generated by considering the typical configurations...
A coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical model for capturing frost heave under chilled gas pipelines
This paper presents a thermo-hydro-mechanics theory and corresponding computational framework to capture the freeze thaw action of frozen porous media and associated frost action under chilled gas pipelines. Based on the mixture theory, frost-susceptible soils are formulated to capture the Darcy...
Effect of trench backfill on lateral pipe-soil interaction in sand
Current industry practice for the pipe–soil interaction analysis widely uses either American Lifeline Alliance(ALA)or Pipeline Research Council International(PRCI)guidelines to model the soil load exerted on the pipeline. The maximum lateral force for the lateral soil springs recommended by these...
Modeling the impact of earthquake-induced sensitive clay landslide on an exposed pipeline using a large deformation Finite Element Method
The sudden and mostly unpredictable landslides in sensitive clay are generally retrogressive in nature and eventually turn into a flow of failed soil mass that exerts force on the pipeline placed across the route of the flow (drag). The drag force is one of key design parameters for selection of...
