Semester of Graduation
Spring 2026
Degree Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Degree Name
Masters of Science in Civil Engineering
Department
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Dr. Adam Kaplan
Second Advisor
Dr. Tien Yee
Third Advisor
Dr. Metin Oguzmert
Abstract
Underground pipelines can be used to transport large amounts of pressurized hydrogen gas over several hundred kilometers. The design will be sensitive to the pipe material, diameter, and trench construction, and traffic loads above the pipe. The purpose of this paper is to conduct various geotechnical engineering analyses (seepage, stress, and slope stability) using the software program GeoStudio (version 2025.2.0) on a buried steel or FRP pipe section in a specific soil type, Harney Soil. Harney soil is of particular interest, because it is the Kansas State Soil and the analysis is for a buried gas pipe to run through the state of Kansas. The results of these computer simulations are presented and discussed. The introduction of a 10ft long steel sheet pile cutoff wall has a significant effect for reducing the hydraulic gradient, volumetric flow rates, and pore water pressure in the soil underneath the pipe. The buried pipe section displays good serviceability, since the traffic loads (AASHTO design truck and lane load of 250 psf) was applied to the buried pipe trench cross-section showed a small deformation (0.00919ft). The minimum factor of safety of 2.2 is greater than 1.5, which means the slope will not fail, it is stable. GeoStudio is a valid simulation software for buried pipe soil performance, however a 2D analysis may not be very realistic so 3D geometry and environmental conditions should be explored for future research.