Field Performance of Corrugated Pipe Manufactured with Recycled Polyethylene Content

This report presents proposed specifications and a recommended practice to assure the satisfactory performance of corrugated drainage pipe incorporating substantial recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) content. This project expounded on the research published in NCHRP Report 696, Performance of Corrugated Pipe Manufactured with Recycled Polyethylene Content. The research consisted of manufacturing several large diameter corrugated HDPE pipes out of various blends of virgin and post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials commonly used in land drainage applications and evaluating these pipes in the field and laboratory to determine their service life in typical installed conditions. PCR materials were the focus of this project as they are more readily available and typically used in the corrugated HDPE pipe industry than post-industrial recycled materials. However, the research is applicable to both types. The research demonstrates that corrugated drainage pipes can be successfully manufactured with post-consumer and post-industrial recycled HDPE materials to meet the service life requirements for highway and railroad applications. Key deliverables included a performance-based specification based on the unnotched constant ligament stress (UCLS) test method that can be used to assure the desired service life of corrugated HDPE pipes manufactured with recycled materials. Additionally, revisions were proposed to AASHTO M 294 to incorporate manufacturing and performance criteria for pipes containing recycled materials. The proposed revisions include minimum UCLS test requirements for pipes manufactured with recycled materials. Finally, a recommended standard practice was developed for predicting the service life of corrugated HDPE pipes manufactured with recycled materials, and design guidelines were established for incorporation into the AASHTO design specifications for thermoplastic pipe.

• Record URL:
  http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/176741.aspx
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309446778
• Authors:
  • Pluimer, Michael
  • Sprague, Joel
  • Thomas, Richard
  • McCarthy, Leslie
  • Welker, Andrea
  • Sargand, Shad
  • Shaheen, Ehab
  • White, Kevin
• Publication Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 158p
• Serial:
  • NCHRP Research Report
  • Issue Number: 870
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 2572-3766

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Corrugated pipe; Drain pipe; Ethylene resins; Field studies; Performance based specifications; Recycled materials; Service life; Test procedures
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Materials; Pipelines;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01661828
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309446778
• Report/Paper Numbers: Project 04-39
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 1 2018 11:48AM