LONG TERM PERFORMANCE OF POLYETHYLENE PIPE UNDER HIGH FILL. TECHNICAL REPORT. PART 2

The performance of a corrugated high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe under high earth load was investigated. The cross-sectional shape of the pipes were essentially round after 6 years of burial. However, visual observations showed the development and growth of circumferential cracks in the unlined corrugated pipe and buckling of the unsupported portions of the liner in the smooth wall corrugated pipe. The cracks were mainly in the inside corrugation crests within the coupling length. The liner buckles were in the bottom half of the pipe. Material property tests on HDPE specimens cut from pieces of pipe showed the existence of longitudinal residual tensile stress in the pipe wall that was close to the yield stress of the HDPE. These residual stresses combined with longitudinal tensile stress induced by the coupling were probably the main cause of the crack development in the field. Laboratory tests were conducted on short lengths of pipe in ring bending and in hoop compression. The ring bending tests showed that the material modulus under short-term deflection increments does not diminish with time, whereas the apparent modulus under sustained deflection decreases with time. The hoop compression tests showed circumferential shortening, corrugation closure and liner buckling under external radial pressure consistent with the field observations.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Massachusetts, Amherst

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  130 Natural Resources Road
  Amherst, MA  United States  01003

  Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

  Office of Research and Special Studies, P.O. Box 2926
  Harrisburg, PA  United States  17120

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Selig, E T
• Publication Date: 1995-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 39 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buckling; Ethylene resins; Field studies; Fracture mechanics; High density; Laboratory tests; Modulus; Performance evaluations; Plastic pipe; Residual stress; Tension; Time duration
• Uncontrolled Terms: High density polyethylene; Long term; Tensile stress
• Old TRIS Terms: Field observation; Residual stresses
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00682732
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: PDT95-424F, Proj No. 88-14
• Contract Numbers: 258814
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 1 1995 12:00AM