Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

The sustainable (cost effective, environmentally friendly, and socially viable) management of civil*infrastructure depends on a clear understanding of the engineering properties of the supporting soils. The*interaction of marginal earthen materials (expansive clays and collapsible silts) with changing meteorological*conditions poses serious challenges to an uninterrupted use of buried utilities. TransGas Limited provides*natural gas (14,000 km long pipeline) as well as system integrity assessment and service for the distribution*network (69,000 km of mains and 390,000 individual services). The main issue associated with buried pipes is*the variable geotechnical pipe failure rate that ranges from 40/year to 110/year. In support of the company's*management strategy, the main objective of this collaborative research is to understand and improve the*geotechnical behavior of marginal soils. This is the first time that the company is participating in a*comprehensive geotechnical evaluation of indigenous soils deposits. Based on a detailed research program*(using laboratory investigation and numerical modeling), a scientific framework will be developed to work*with expansive and collapsible sediments in Saskatchewan. Soil properties will be investigated using*fundamental concepts of saturated and unsaturated soil mechanics under natural and compacted conditions.*The resulting innovative technology (characterization protocols and computational predictions) will be pivotal*for the design, construction, operation, and rehabilitation of civil infrastructure systems. The expected*economic benefits of understanding and improving local marginal soils for TransGas Limited are minimizing*the number of leak surveys and prioritizing vulnerable areas within the networks. Likewise, the environmental*and safety benefits due to reduced pipe ruptures and gas leaks will ensure public confidence in the natural gas*distribution system. The research results will be critical for the company for ongoing and future pipeline*network expansions. Finally, the expected capacity development in technical expertise, recruitment of highly*qualified professionals, and multi-disciplinary interactions are important benefits for the University of Regina