Fast-Track Pipeline Rehabilitation Using a Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) Strengthening System

Internal pipeline inspections can often lead to observations of distress and emergency action must be taken to get the pipeline back into service. In many cases, the pipe does not wait for an inspection to demonstrate signs of distress. The San Diego County Water Authority has first hand knowledge of these situations and has needed to act quickly in several cases to get the pipeline back into service. On several occasions, the fastest and most viable technique was Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) strengthening. When a pipeline needs to be strengthened quickly, few alternatives have proved as fast as CFRP lining. The design and installation of these materials must be done by specialized engineers and contractors using systems that have been thoroughly tested. Many projects have been completed that presented unique challenges. This paper will review the project details, specification requirements and lessons learned from the completed installations.