Open Access

ARTICLE

Evaluation of the Failure Impact of Jet Fire from Natural Gas Leakage on Parallel Pipelines

Zezhi Wen¹, Kai Zhang¹, Shanlin Liang², Liqiong Chen^1,*, Zijian Xiong¹

1 College of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, 610500, China
2 China National Petroleum Corporation Hunan Pipeline Branch, Changsha, 410000, China

* Corresponding Author: Liqiong Chen. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Intelligent Fault Diagnosis and Health Monitoring for Pipelines)

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring 2026, 20(1), . https://doi.org/10.32604/sdhm.2025.066408

Received 08 April 2025; Accepted 19 June 2025; Issue published 08 January 2026

Abstract

Maintaining the structural integrity of parallel natural gas pipelines during leakage-induced jet fires remains a critical engineering challenge. Existing methods often fail to account for the complex interactions among heat transfer, material behavior, and pipeline geometry, which can lead to overly simplified and potentially unsafe assessments. To address these limitations, this study develops a multiphysics approach that integrates small-orifice leakage theory with detailed thermo-fluid-structural simulations. The proposed framework contributes to a more accurate failure analysis through three main components: (1) coupled modeling that tracks transient heat flow and stress development as fire conditions evolve; (2) risk assessment incorporating spatial layout, material property changes with temperature, and operational limits; and (3) sensitivity analysis to identify key design factors that influence structural performance under high thermal loads. Simulation results demonstrate that thermal radiation from neighboring jet fires significantly accelerates material degradation, with inter-pipeline spacing emerging as a critical determinant of structural response. Notably, increasing the spacing between pipelines reduces thermal interaction and mechanical stress transfer. As a result, systems with optimized spacing exhibit markedly lower deformation than conventional configurations. These findings provide a foundation for re-evaluating pipeline layout strategies and strengthening safety protocols, particularly in high-risk environments where fire exposure can severely compromise structural reliability. The proposed approach offers actionable guidance for engineers and policymakers seeking to enhance the resilience of pipeline infrastructure under extreme thermal conditions.

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Keywords

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