Long‐Term Deformation and Failure of Buried Plastic Pipes

Abstract

This investigation concerns the mechanical behavior of plastic pipes buried in a trench and subjected to gravitational loading by the trench fill. The pipe materials of interest, particularly in regard to sewers and drains, are polyvinylchloride and high‐density polyethylene. The analysis is confined to inplane behavior and is carried out with a two‐dimensional finite element model of the pipe‐trench system, taking kinematical nonlinearities fully into account. The pipe materials are modeled as linear viscoelastic, and trench materials as linear elastic, although plastic and viscous effects are estimated. For a realistic range of material parameters, stresses and deformations arising in the system with time are determined, and the risk of final failure through excessive deformation is discussed.