Mechanical and deformation performance of buried pipes subjected to static loads was investigated through finite element method（FEM）.The numerical results were verified by published experimental results from model tests

and then the effects of relative density（Dr）

width of load plate（B）

location of load plate（L）

buried depth（H）and wall thickness of pipes（t）on the performance of buried pipes were studied comprehensively.The numerical results showed that limit bearing capacity of load plate above buried pipe remarkably increases with increase of relative density

and radial deformation and strains of pipe decrease under the same loading level;circumferential compression strains constitute a major part of pipe strains.With increase of width of load plate

the limit bearing capacity of load plate above buried pipe increases linearly and radial deformation and strains in pipes increase significantly.By increasing the buried depth continually

the limit bearing capacity of load plate above buried pipe increases firstly and then decreases

and it lastly tends to be steady.For the buried depth of 3 D

the vertical earth pressure at the top of pipe is about half of that without pipes

witch indicates that there is remarkable soil arching effect above pipes.Increasing the horizontal distance from center of load plate to circle point of pipes doesn’t affect greatly the radial deformation and strain in pipes

but the distribution of radial deformation and strains along pipes varies with buried depth.Additionally

increasing wall thickness of pipes

which doesn’t result in great change of radial deformation and limit bearing capacity of load plate above buried pipe

is helpful for reducing hoop strains.