Design Of A Laboratory Set-up For Evaluating Structural Strength Of Deteriorated Concrete Sewer Pipes

Abstract

The principle of structural behaviour of buried concrete pipes is fairly understood, except for how material deterioration affects structural behaviour and performance. Consequently, information on the structural behaviour of deteriorated sewer pipes will contribute to better understanding of the changes in status, which is essential for achieving the desired efficiency gains for urban drainage systems. In literature, some attempts to study the behaviour of the buried pipes under laboratory conditions have been reported. However, no attempt was made to evaluate the structural response of deteriorated concrete sewer pipes. The paper describes the design of a laboratory set-up for evaluating the strength of deteriorated sewer pipes. The test setup is a representation of field conditions in order to see if it is possible to model the field condition. Overall, this research is a first step in determining the probability of collapse of deteriorated sewer pipes that will enhance proper decision making for sewer rehabilitation.