Chapter
Aug 10, 2023

Compressive Failure Mechanisms of Thermoplastic Pipeline Systems in Response to Seismically Representative Compressive Loading

ABSTRACT

As water distribution infrastructure ages, providers seek to improve water distribution systems’ ability to accommodate the significant ground deformations associated with earthquakes, fault rupture, landslides, liquefaction-induced lateral spreading, and other natural hazards. To address this susceptibility to damage from large ground movement, municipalities and design engineers are considering improved materials and jointing mechanisms, some of which have been seismically assessed through full-scale testing. This paper reports on a series of full-scale compressive loading tests performed on thermoplastic pipe at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Center for Infrastructure, Energy, and Space Testing. The full-scale compressive loading tests provide a framework for interpretation of experimental results through a seismic resiliency lens. The tests identify and interpret the pipeline’s axial response to, and failure mechanisms under, compressive loading when paired with various coupling types such as reinforced internal gaskets, external restraint systems, and traditional bell-spigot connections. Testing performed on 6-in. (150-mm) diameter iPVC (DR14) with varying coupling types is discussed and illustrates the axial response mechanisms of traditional continuous and segmented systems, as well as pipeline connections that exhibit combined behavior. Failure modes discussed include global/local buckling, joint telescoping, and bell fracturing, and are considered in the context of large ground deformation due to natural hazards. Displacement and strain measurements are employed to capture simulated pipeline response to ground movement parallel to the buried system as well as considerations for internal pressure build up due to axial loads. The presented failure modes provide guidance relative to an ongoing ASCE/UESI committee on seismic evaluation of pipeline systems as well as for seismically classifying axial response for the developing ASCE/UESI Manual of Practice (MOP) on Seismic Design of Water and Wastewater Pipelines. Procedures for interpreting experimental results and the implications for seismic design are discussed.

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REFERENCES

Wham, B. P., and Davis, C. A. (2019). “Buried Continuous and Segmented Pipelines Subjected to Longitudinal Permanent Ground Deformation.” J. Pipeline Syst. Eng. Pract., 10 (4): 04019036. American Society of Civil Engineers.
Berty, N. W. (2022). Seismic Assessment of Polyethylene Chloride Pipe with Couplings M.S. Thesis, Boulder CO: University of Colorado Boulder.
Wham, B. P., Ihnotic, C. R., Balcells, D., and Anderson, D. K. (2019). “Performance Assessment of Pipeline System Seismic Response”. Proceedings: JWWA/WRF/CTWWA Water System Seismic Conference. Los Angeles, CA: JWWA/WRF/CTWWA Water System Seismic Conference.
O’Rourke, T. D. (1998). An Overview of Geotechnical and Lifeline Earthquake Engineering. Geotechnical Special Publication No. 75, ASCE.
Wham, B. P., Berger, B. A., and O’Rourke, T. D. (2019). “Experimental Performance Evaluation of Seismic Resilient PVCO Pipeline”. Proceedings: Pipelines 2019 (pp. 504–514). Nashville, TN: American Society of Civil Engineers.
Ihnotic, C. R. (2019). Seismic Evaluation of Hazard-Resistant Lifelines: Thermoplastic Pipes and Connections. M.S. Thesis, Boulder CO: University of Colorado Boulder.
Supian, A. B. M., Sapuan, S., Zuhri, M. Y. M., Zainudin, E. S., and Ya, H. (2018). Hybrid reinforced thermoset polymer composite in energy absorption tube application: A review.
Argyrou, C., O’Rourke, T. D., Pariya-Ekkasut, C., and Stewart, H. E. (2020). “Ductile iron pipeline response to earthquake-induced ground rupture”. Earthquake Spectra, 36(2), 832–855.
Wham, B. P., Berger, B. A., Pariya-Ekkasut, C., O’Rourke, T. D., Stewart, H. E., Bond, T. K., and Argyrou, C. (2018). “Achieving Resilient Water Networks – Experimental Performance Evaluation”. Proceedings: Eleventh U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering (11NCEE) (p. 11). Los Angeles, CA.

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Go to Pipelines 2023
Pipelines 2023
Pages: 373 - 381

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Published online: Aug 10, 2023

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Jessica L. Ramos [email protected]
1Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, Univ. of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO. Email: [email protected]
2Formerly, Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, Univ. of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO. Email: [email protected]
Cory Ihnotic [email protected]
3Professional Research Assistant, Dept. of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, Univ. of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO. Email: [email protected]
Brad Wham, Ph.D., M.ASCE [email protected]
4Assistant Research Professor, Dept. of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, Univ. of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO. Email: [email protected]

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