A new formula to predict the structural life of composite pipes

摘要

Infrastructure applications require solutions that are cost competitive and durable. For the infrastructure engineer, if the price is good the question of durability is next. Over the years the composites industry has done well in cutting costs and improving its competitive position. The issue of durability is still lagging and has been addressed empirically by pointing out to many successful proven in use applications. The engineering community is still looking for a quantitative model based on test results and a solid theoretical foundation to predict the structural life of composites subjected to multiple loadings. This paper introduces a new equation to predict the long-term structural life of composite pipes subjected to tensile, flexural and cyclic loadings and used in water and wastewater transmission.