Load Transfer Analyses of Buried Pipe in Different Backfills
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 123, Issue 6
Abstract
Nonlinear finite-element analyses have been carried out to assess the effects of different trench backfill materials, pipe burial depths, and pipe materials on the amount of traffic load transferred to buried pipe. The analyses show that the use of trench backfills such as controlled low strength material (CLSM) instead of traditional materials such as sand and clay, results in significantly reduced stresses in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe under traffic loading. This finding is in agreement with recent truck load tests carried out in the City of Edmonton, where strains were monitored on buried PVC water mains. The protection of buried pipes under or in CLSM backfill from traffic loading becomes more significant with the decrease in pipe burial depth and stiffness. The reasons behind the difference in load transfer between the traditional backfills and CLSM are the high elastic modulus and strength of CLSM, as well as uniform load transfer along the longitudinal axis of the pipe.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Abaqus/standard user's manual, version 5.4, Vol. 1. (1995). Hibbitt, Karlsson & Sorenson, Inc., Pawtucket, R.I.
2.
Alferink, F. J. M. (1990). “Some experience with 30 year old buried (uPVC) pipes from the viewpoint of stress and strain.”Buried Plastic Pipe Technology, ASTM STP 1093, West Conshohocken, Pa., 233–244.
3.
AWWA Manual M23. PVC pipe—design and installation. American Water Works Association (AWWA). (1990). Denver, Colo.
4.
Brewer and Associates. (1991). “Load transfer comparisons between conventionally backfilled roadway trenches and those backfilled with controlled low strength material—controlled density fill (CLSM-CDF).”Report prepared for the Cincinnati Gas and Electric Company, Cincinnati, Ohio.
5.
“Controlled low strength materials.” (1994). Special publication SP-150, ACI 229R-94, Am. Concrete Inst. (ACI), W. S. Adaska, ed., Detroit, Mich.
6.
Lasater, D. V. (1990). “Resilient performance of controlled density fill in utility trench excavations,” MS thesis, Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Washington, Seattle, Wash.
7.
Peindl, R. D., Janardhanam, R., and Burns, F.(1992a). “Evaluation of flowable fly-ash backfill I: Static loading.”J. Geotech. Engrg., 118(3), 449–463.
8.
Peindl, R. D., Janardhanam, R., and Burns, F.(1992b). “Evaluation of flowable fly-ash backfill II: Dynamic loading.”J. Geotech. Engrg., 118(3), 464–474.
9.
Rajani, B., and Kuraoka, S. (1995). “Field performance of PVC water mains buried in different backfills.”Proc., 2nd Int. Conf. on Adv. in Underground Pipeline Engrg., American Society of Civil Enginering, N.Y., 138–149.
10.
Smith, A.(1991). “Controlled low strength materials.”Concrete Constr., May, 1991, 389–396.
11.
Spangler, M. G., and Hardy, R. L. (1982). Soil Engrg., Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., New York.
12.
Thomson, S., and Kjartanson, B. H.(1985). “A study of delayed failure in a cut slope in stiff clay.”Can. Geotech. J., 22, 286–297.
13.
Trow, Ltd. (1985). “Utility cut restoration, problems and a new policy.”Rep. Prepared for Metropolitan Toronto Roads and Traffic Dept., Toronto, Ontario.
14.
Zhan, C., Goodrich, L. E., and Rajani, B. B. (1995). “Thermal performance of trench backfills for buried water mains.”Proc., 2nd Int. Conf. on Adv. in Underground Pipeline Engrg., American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, 650–661.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Nov 1, 1997
Published in print: Nov 1997
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.