Field Performance of High Density Polyethylene Culvert Pipe
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 2
Abstract
The effect of installation procedures on the field performance of existing high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe used for drainage applications on highway projects was investigated. A total of 45 HDPE pipes were inspected at sites in South Carolina that were statistically selected based on geographical location, pipe diameter, use, and age. The condition of each pipe was not known prior to selection for inspection. Both the external and internal conditions of the pipe were evaluated with respect to AASHTO and ASTM specifications, measurements of pipe deflection with a mandrel set to 5% deflection, and visual inspections of the pipe interior using a video camera. The video camera inspections revealed circumferential cracks in 18% of the pipes, localized bulges in 20% of the pipes, and tears or punctures in 7% of the pipes. Deflections greater than 5% were observed in 20% of the pipes. Installation problems such as poor preparation of bedding soils, inappropriate backfill material, and inadequate backfill cover contributed to the excessive deflection and observed internal cracking in pipes with observed damage. Appropriate construction procedures are essential in achieving a proper installation.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration under Contract No. SPR 601. Their support is greatly appreciated.
References
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). (1996). Standard specifications for highway bridges, AASHTO, 16th Ed., Washington, D.C.
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). (2000). Standard specifications for transportation materials and methods of sampling and testing, AASHTO, 20th Ed., Washington, D.C.
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). (1989). “Standard practice for underground installation of thermoplastic pipe for sewers and other gravity—Flow applications.” ASTM D 2321-89, West Conshohocken, Pa.
Chambers, R. E., McGrath, T. J., and Heger, F. J. (1980). “Plastic pipe for subsurface drainage of transportation facilities.” National Cooperative Highway Research Program Rep. No. 225, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C.
Gabriel, L. H., Bennett, O. N., and Schneider, B. (1996). “Polyethylene pipe specifications.” National Cooperative Highway Research Project 20-7, Task 68, Final Rep., Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C.
Gaube, E., and Mueller, W. (1981). “12 years of deformation measurements on sewer pipes from Kostalen GM 5010.” Proc., Int. Conf. on Underground Plastic Pipe, B. J. Schrock ed., New Orleans, 272–278.
Hsuan, Y. G., and McGrath, T. J. (1999). “HDPE pipe: Recommended material specifications and design requirements.” Report 429, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
Hurd, J. O. (1986). “Field performance of corrugated polyethylene pipe culverts in Ohio.” Transp. Res. Rec., 1087, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 1–6.
McGrath, T. J., and Sagan, V. E. (2000). “Recommended LRFD specifications for plastic pipe and culverts.” National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Rep. No. 438, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C.
Moser, A. P. (1999). “Structural performance of HDPE profile-wall pipe.” Test Rep. submitted to Advanced Drainage Systems, Columbus, Ohio.
Reddy, D. V. (1999). “Evaluation of plastic piping for culverts and storm sewers.” Florida Department of Transportation, Work Program No. 0510757, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Fla.
Sargand, S. M., Hazen, G. A., Moran, A. P., and Bhargava, A. (2001). “Comparison of structural response of thermoplastic pipes under deep burial.” Proc., 80th Annual Meeting, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.
Watkins, R. K., and Anderson, L. R. (2000). Structural mechanics of buried pipes, CRC, New York.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 2 • February 2005
Pages: 160 - 167
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Mar 13, 2001
Accepted: May 21, 2004
Published online: Feb 1, 2005
Published in print: Feb 2005
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.