New test method to determine effect of recycled materials on corrugated HDPE pipe performance as projected by rate process method

摘要

One of the key requirements for successful use of recycled materials is ensuring performance of the resulting HDPE corrugated pipe. As slow crack growth (SCG) has been identified as a potential key criterion in long term field performance for HDPE corrugated pipe, research was undertaken to develop a test method for corrugated HDPE pipe samples that results in laboratory SCG failures that test the highest stress riser in the pipe wall geometry. The present paper will explain the pipe ring test method, compare SCG failure modes of laboratory data with pipe samples exhumed from field service, describe use of rate process method (RPM) methodology on the laboratory SCG data and detail the proposed next phase in the development of the methodology.