Long term performance of polyethylene pipe under high fill. Part 1. Technical report, June 1989-November 1992
The aim of this study is to improve the knowledge base for the design of non-pressure high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes under high earth loads. Laboratory tests were performed on HDPE pipe sections to obtain property information. The tests involved the diametrical compression (ring bending) of pipe sections both at various deformation rates to evaluate the effect on pipe stiffness, and also at fixed vertical deflection to evaluate the load relaxation with time. The performance of an HDPE pipe under high fill was monitored during fill construction and for three years after completion of construction. No wall crushing, structural buckling or excess deflection occurred. However, circumferential cracking of the unlined sections at the couplings, and buckling of the liner in the lined sections were observed. Laboratory studies of these two effects will be described in a subsequent technical report. Finite element analysis of the field installation was carried out. The analysis showed that the pipe can sustain circumferential stresses that are much higher than those proposed by current design (1992) procedures.
- Research Organization:
- Massachusetts Univ., Amherst, MA (United States). Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- OSTI ID:
- 107852
- Report Number(s):
- PB-95-239653/XAB; CNN: Contract PDOT-258814; TRN: 52612654
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: DN: See also Part 2, PB--95-239661; PBD: Dec 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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