Field Tests of Plastic Pipe for Airport Drainage Systems

摘要

Airport designers are beginning to select plastic pipe as an alternative in the design of underdrains, storm sewers, culverts, and similar drainage elements at airports because plastic pipe is economical and easy to transport and install. This report provides information concerning the performance of buried plastic pipe under dynamic wheel loadings. Three types of plastic pipe - polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) - of different diameters were buried at different shallow depths at three separate test sites and were subjected to static and dynamic wheel loads. The PVC pipe performed well under a range of loadings simulating highway and light- and medium-load aircraft traffic. Results for PE and ABS pipe followed. The report concludes that good pipe installation practices should be followed and that a compacted coarse-grained material should be used for bedding, haunching, and backfill to at least a depth of one pipe radius above the crown of the pipe. A cover depth of 12 in. is suggested for PVC pipe for highway 18-kip axle loads, 18 in. for heavier highway loadings and light aircraft traffic, and 24 in. of cover for PVC pipe subjected to medium-load aircraft. PE pipe should be protected with 18 in. of cover from 18-kip axle loads and with 24 in. of cover for heavier highway loads and light aircraft traffic. While 24 in. of cover seemed to be adequate cover for pipe subjected to medium-load aircraft, additional repetitive load tests are required in order to finalize a recommended safe cover depth. (Author)