SEISMIC VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT OF AN URBAN NATURAL GAS NETWORK

Natural and man-made hazards have shown that modern societies are heavily dependent on critical infrastructures. The natural gas network plays a key role in a community economy, and seismic events might be detrimental for its safety and wellness. This paper proposes a methodology to assess the seismic vulnerability of urban natural gas networks. A physical-based model of the network of a virtual city has been developed. The modeling and calibration have been executed using a Python simulation tool. The model has then been used to evaluate the damage induced by the ground shaking and permanent soil deformation caused by a given seismic scenario. Network damage has been estimated in terms of gas leaks and pipe breaks. The methodology provides an effective tool to measure vulnerability and identify the critical components of the network. The results of the analysis can be used to assess the resilience of the gas infrastructure and to implement strategies for improving the overall community resilience.