Applied Research
The Institute undertakes engineering research which has direct applicability to assure the integrity of pipelines. Example topics include:
- developing pipeline materials with increased strength, and reduced susceptibility to corrosion,
- improved coatings,
- improved understanding of geotechnical environments, and
- the design of pipelines to withstand ground movements from landslides and earthquakes.
The objective is to generate research findings that will contribute to the integrity of pipelines and overall sector guidelines. All research is transparent and peer reviewed globally. All findings are communicated in public forums.
Time-lapse video showing the use of ASPIRe™ facility to simulate soil failure around a buried pipe during adjacent ground movement.
Technical Publications
Dr. Dharma Wijewickreme
Co-Director of Pipeline Integrity Institute, Professor of Civil Engineering, see full publication list and see UBC Civil Engineering profile.
Jadhav, P., Jayasinghe, T., and Wijewickreme, D., “Estimation of Permanent Ground Displacement Demand on Pipelines Buried in Organic Soils”, Geo-Extreme 2025, ASCE Conference, to be held on November 2–5, 2025, Long Beach, CA, USA, ID: 0912_1355_000116.
Wong, S. and Wijewickreme, D., “Assessment of Soil Restraints on Buried Pipelines in Liquefied Soil Using Physical Modeling”, 78th Canadian Geotechnical Conference, September 21-24, 2025, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Jayasinghe, T. and Wijewickreme, D., 2024. Full-Scale Physical Modeling of Axial Soil-Pipe Interaction in Organic Soils, 15th International Pipeline Conference (IPC 2024), Calgary, AB, Canada. September 23-27, 2024, Paper Number: IPC2024-133726.
Basu, D., and Wijewickreme, D., 2024. “Influence of ground motion characteristics on liquefaction-induced pipe uplift”. 8th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, Osaka, Japan, May 07-10, 2024.
Jadhav, P. and Wijewickreme, D., 2024. “Comparison of empirical seismic lateral spread displacement models based on probabilistic geotechnical hazard curves developed for Canada”, 8th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, Osaka, Japan, May 07-10, 2024 and Japanese Geotechnical Society Special Publication 10(16): 540-545 (2024).
Weerasekara, L., Rahman, M., and Wijewickreme, D., 2023, “Performance of buried natural gas distribution pipes in a landslide area: Observations from nine years of pipe strain monitoring”. In Proc. 76th Canadian Geotechnical Annual Conference, October 1-4, 2023, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
Dr. Edouard Asselin
Co-Director of Pipeline Integrity Institute, Professor of Materials Engineering, see full publication list and see UBC Materials Engineering profile.
Zargarnezhad, H., Deen, KM., Wong, D., Lam, CNC., Asselin, E. 2023, “CO2 permeation through fusion-bonded epoxy coating in humid environments”
Khollari, MAR., Zebardast, H., Asselin, E., 2023, “Nickel-based alloy corrosion in CANDU steam generators: E-pH diagrams of the Ni-NH3-H2O and Ni-CH3COO−-H2O ternary systems”
Liu, Y., Asselin, E. 2023, “Effects of solid deposits on the corrosion behaviour of titanium in high acidity and highly oxidising leaching solutions”, Corrosion Engineering, Science and Technology 58 (2), 108-115, 2023
Zargarnezhad, H., Zarei, P., Wong, D., Lam, CNC., Asselin, E., 2023, “Oxygen transport through epoxy-based powder coatings in humid environments”, Progress in Organic Coatings 175, 107295, 2023.
Zargarnezhad, H., Asselin, E., Wong, D., Lam, CNC., 2022, “Water transport through epoxy-based powder pipeline coatings”, Progress in Organic Coatings 168, 106874, 2022.