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Performance of buried pipes

Impact Resistance of Structured Wall Pipes

Researchers: Paul Fleming and Carol Raymond (part-time)

Funder: SWPA (Structured Wall Pipe Association), £20 000

Period: 12 months

This recent project specifically examined the puncture resistance of a range of profiled-wall thermoplastic pipe. Using specialist equipment in the department of IPTME, and specially constructed equipment in the Civil Engineering Dept laboratory, a new national water industry standard was developed for 'low energy' impact assessment.

(Draft Specification 4/35/01, 'Internal puncture test of profile-wall pipes for sewers' and in draft form for series 500 in the DTp Specification for Highway Works).

This work included real-time data capture of the impact event with instrumented impact rods and comparison with the forces generated from manual cleaning and maintenance activities in the field.