RETRACTED: Finite Element Modeling of a New PVC Pipe Buried with Native Soils

With rapid expansion of urban population, selection of a specific pipe material based on performance prediction for water applications is an important issue. This paper presents finite element modeling (FEM) of a new PVC pipe using ABAQUS software based on bedding test in native soils conducted at the Center for Underground Infrastructure Research and Education (CUIRE) at the University of Texas at Arlington. To evaluate deflection of this pipe under dead and live loads, three dimensional FEM analyses were carried out on different backfill depths, pipe diameters and pipe thicknesses and results of vertical deformations are presented in this paper. The parametric study indicates that for cases studied, vertical deflection of new PVC pipe is less than 1% of pipe’s diameter, which is an indication of capability of this new PVC pipe to be installed in native in-situ soils with minimum compaction efforts, thereby reducing installation and environmental costs.