Abstract: Under external loads, buckling failure of buried pipeline is subject to a number of factors such as external pressure, internal pressure, axial force and bending moment, all of which can cause buckling of pipeline. Therefore, the buckling deformation is complex. ȼ660×7.1 steel pipe subject to partial non-uniform buckling are taken as an example. The finite element method is used to carry out research on the buckling instability of the pipeline to analyze pipe body deformation forms under different loads and further determine the main cause for steel pipe buckling deformation. The steel pipe is subject to a large bending moment at the deformation point and the bending moment results from periodic axial pipeline load due to lack of friction between slope steel pipe and soils, circulating fluctuation of pipeline gas pressure and seasonal soil freezing and melting with temperature change.