Fiber-Reinforced Cement Pipes as Simulants for Deteriorated Asbestos Cement Pipes in Rehabilitation Studies

Abstract

The water industry is facing increasing pressure to replace or renovate aging asbestos cement (AC) pipes due to rising failure rates. While AC pipes have been used since the 1930s, many have already exceeded their expected service life. As AC pipe testing requires specialized and certified laboratories due to hazardous friable asbestos material, this paper investigates the potential of using fiber-reinforced cement (FRC) pipes, with cellulose fibers as a substitute for asbestos fibers, as a simulant for deteriorated AC pipes. Material property tests, burst tests, and bend tests were conducted to assess the performance of FRC pipes. Test results revealed that the performance of FRC pipes tested ranged from 20% to 54% of that of AC pipes, as per industry standard minimum values. This provides an excellent case for FRC pipes to be used as a deteriorated AC pipe simulant. In addition, an FRC pipe lined with cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), as an example of a renovation technique for deteriorated AC pipes, was tested under 4-point bending. The findings suggest that FRC pipes can serve as a reliable alternative to deteriorated AC pipes for laboratory testing purposes, and CIPP lining could potentially extend the life of deteriorated AC pipes.