Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has become one of the dominant construction materials for sewer systems over the past decades, as a result of its reputed merits. However, since PVC sewer pipes have operat...

A review on the durability of PVC sewer pipes: research vs. practice

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Lifetime Prediction of PVC Push-fit Joints

With the objective of defining parameters that can be used to assess the condition of PVC joints in the field, more than two-hundred destructive tests were done in the laboratory. Two diameters (110 mm and 315 mm) of new PVC double-sockets were tested. The occurrence of leakage during water pressure tests, intrusion during vacuum tests and characterization of joint stiffness during rotation were monitored. The results clearly demonstrate that leakage and intrusion do not occur for typical operational situations (angles below 10 degrees) if the rubber ring is in perfect condition. The joint's stiffness increases with the increase of inner-pipe pressure, diameter and with the level of insertion. Insertion plays the most relevant role. The results also show that the condition of a joint cannot only be defined by its angle, but that an extra parameter is necessary: the level of insertion.

Characterization of PVC joints' behaviour during variable loading laboratory tests

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sewer pipes have operated for decades in a hostile environment, raising concern among sewer managers over the longevity of their drainage systems. Inspection data (CCTV and...

Extensive testing on PVC sewer pipes towards identifying the factors that affect their operational lifetime

Ductile PVC leads the Way

One of the options for a low-pressure gas distribution system is the use of ductile PVC pipes and joints. The long-term performance of ductile PVC pipes has been reported in a number of previous studies. In this paper the long-term performance of the socket joints, in which elastomeric (NBR) sealing rings are used, is evaluated. The long-term quality of socket joints in ductile PVC pipeline systems has been determined by various tests on a number of excavated joints, which have been in operation for more than 20 years. Leak tightness determined according to the present specifications did fulfil all requirements. The quality of the rubberrings , established by e.g. tensile testing and hardness tests, was also still at the level of new rubberrings. The socket joints started only to leak at deflections of the pipes far exceeding the deflection levels met in field practice. The compression set of the excavated samples was also rather low and extrapolated to long times will not exceed a maximum required value of 70 % before 50 years. These results once again show that ductile PVC pipe systems for low-pressure gas distribution exhibit an excellent (long-term) performance.

Renee J.M. Hermkens

Papers

The Durability of a Low-pressure Gas Distribution System of Ductile PVC