This paper introduces some experimental data measured from 63 impact tests of pre−stressed strand cables. The test specimens consist of seven steel wires that have a length equivalent to 100 times the outside diameter. To ensure consistency with the engineering service status, the strand cables are fully installed in a specially designed device and are axially pre−stretched to 0% to 40% of the ultimate bearing capacity before being subjected to lateral impact. The mass of the indenter is 50.34 kg, and the maximum impact velocity reaches 13 m/s. Two dimensionless variables, axial force and input kinetic energy, are used to control the experimental parameters. The recorded test data show that input energy and pre−stress level are the key factors governing the impact behavior, which is mainly characterized by plastic deformation controlled by the combination of tension and flexure, and the dynamic fracture concentrated in the impact zone is controlled by the joint effects of compression, tension and shear. As the impact energy increases, the dynamic mode of the test specimen changes from elastic rebound to plastic deformation, and finally evolves into fracture of some or all steel wires, which correspond to slight, partial and total loss of pre−tension, respectively. An increase in the level of pre−stress will significantly reduce the critical displacement of the structural failure but has little effect on the critical failure energy. The present paper provides a basic experimental data and mechanical analysis framework for the analysis, design and evaluation of the mechanical behavior of strands under accidental lateral impact.
Buried oil and gas pipelines, the critical arteries of global energy infrastructure, are increasingly vulnerable to severe geological hazards such as reverse faulting, yet their structural integrity is often pre-compromised by stochastic corrosion damage accumulated during service. However, quantifying the coupled impact of spatial corrosion heterogeneity and large ground deformation remains a formidable challenge due to the complex nonlinearities involved in soil–structure interactions and wall thinning. This study establishes a probabilistic assessment framework integrating random field theory, nonlinear finite element analysis, and a generative conditional diffusion model to characterize realistic 2D non-Gaussian corrosion morphologies. The numerical results reveal a significant geometric stiffening effect induced by internal pressure, where moderate operating levels effectively suppress cross-sectional distortion by counteracting the Brazier effect. Consequently, this mechanism facilitates a fundamental transition in failure modes from localized tensile rupture to ductile buckling, significantly extending the critical fault displacement threshold. Furthermore, probabilistic fragility analysis demonstrates that the spatial dispersion of pitting, rather than just average wall thinning, governs the initiation of premature failure. Mechanistic analysis indicates that high internal pressure, while providing pneumatic support, exacerbates tensile strain localization at corrosion pits, leading to a heightened probability of premature rupture under minor fault deformations, a critical hazard that traditional deterministic models significantly underestimate. These findings provide a quantitative theoretical foundation for the reliability-based design and maintenance of energy lifelines traversing active tectonic zones.