Buckling of HDPE Liners under External Uniform Pressure

Abstract

Lining of underground pipeline networks with deformed/reformed high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liners is a trenchless technique frequently specified for rehabilitation. According to the current design practice, a liner can be structurally designed as a flexible pipe, rigid pipe, or composite pipe, depending on installation conditions. One of the most important design considerations of a confined liner is its buckling under a uniform pressure similar to that exerted by ground water seeping through the deteriorated host pipe. Because long-term testing of a lining system is both time-consuming and expensive, it becomes extremely important to establish a design criteria for long-term conditions more quickly and economically. In the reported study, over 200 short-, medium- and long-term tests were performed to examine the effects of the diameter, thickness, and deformities on the buckling characteristics of a HDPE liner pipe. Based on the findings of the study, some recommendations were proposed for the design and testing of plastic liners under short- and long-term loading conditions.