Chapter
Aug 10, 2023

State-of-the-Art Overview of Plastic Pipe Deterioration Mechanisms

ABSTRACT

Plastic pipe material is increasingly used for several applications including water, sewer, and gas applications. Plastic pipelines currently in service are generally not as old as the metallic pipelines, but there have been many seemingly premature failures warranting a comprehensive understanding of their failure mechanisms and how to keep track of them for appropriate intervention. This study provides a comprehensive review of the deterioration mechanisms for plastic pipelines informed by the state-of-the-art literature. There have been numerous papers published on various aspects of plastic pipe degradation in multiple utility sectors, and this proposed paper synthesizes the most crucial knowledge out there into a single paper for practical reference. Various material, design, installation, operational, and maintenance-related factors could affect premature failure of plastic pipelines. All such factors are highlighted in this paper. This paper is useful for utility owners and consultants dealing with any kind of plastic pipelines.

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Pipelines 2023
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Published online: Aug 10, 2023

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Seyed M. Yadollahi [email protected]
1Glenn Dept. of Civil Engineering, Clemson Univ. Email: [email protected]
Kalyan R. Piratla, Ph.D. [email protected]
2Glenn Dept. of Civil Engineering, Clemson Univ. Email: [email protected]

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