Proper Tools and Techniques for the Inspection, Structural Observation, and Field Quality Control of Hand-Applied Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Pipeline Rehabilitation Systems

Advanced fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) systems have been widely used for the structural strengthening and rehabilitation of existing buildings and bridges for decades. Such as the engineering community has accepted these systems as viable, long-term strengthening solutions for structural bridge and building elements, so too have they accepted them for the rehabilitation and strengthening of pipelines. This relatively novel FRP technology is extremely conducive to application in pipeline rehabilitation and strengthening; its unidirectional strength properties and malleable form make precision design and installation of the system efficient and cost-effective in many applications. As the design of FRP pipeline strengthening systems becomes more refined, so too must the inspection methods used to assure these systems’ proper installation and post-installation performance. Various experiences have been compiled from nuclear, industrial, and municipal installations on steel, reinforced concrete, and pre-stressed concrete cylinder piping. Resulting conclusions and best-practices on processes ranging from monitoring of in-field environmental conditions, to critical points of structural observation during installation, and proper methods of post-cure imperfection detection and remediation will be defined and presented within this paper. The aim of this work will be to inform end-users and installers alike of necessary inspection and observation steps required during installations to ensure the safe and proper performance of FRP pipeline strengthening systems.