Eric A. Gonzalez, P.E.

Advanced Drainage Systems

South Florida Regional Engineer

FDOT Testing of Thermoplastic Pipe Materials

for 100-Year Service Life Applications

C C

H

H

H

H

C C

H

H

H

H

C C

H

H

H

H

C C

H

H

H

CH3

C C

H

H

H

C C

CH3

HH

H

CH3

Polyethylene

Polypropylene

Monomer Polymer

Thermoplastics

12" 15" 18" 24" 30" 36" 42" 48" 60"

Pip

e S

tiffn

ess

(p

si)

Pipe Diameter

HP (Polypropylene) vs N-12 (Polyethylene)

Pipe Stiffness

HP HDPE

Time (log)

Str

ess

(lo

g)

Stage I - Ductile

Stage II - Brittle

Stage III - Chemical

Failure Modes

100 Years

Finite Element Modeling

Y. Grace Hsuan, Ph.D., Timothy Mcgrath, Ph.D., P.E., Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. Protocol for Predicting Long-term Service of Corrugated High Density Polyethylene Pipes, 2005

NCLS Laboratory Testing

NCLS Laboratory Testing

QA Test Methods

QA Test Methods

Time (log)

Str

ess

(lo

g)

Stage I - Ductile

Stage II - Brittle

Stage III - Chemical

Failure Modes

100 Years

OIT Laboratory Testing

OIT Laboratory Testing

OIT Laboratory Testing

FDOT Service Life Calculator

Time (log)

Str

ess

(lo

g)

Stage I - Ductile

Stage II - Brittle

Stage III - Chemical

Failure Modes

100 Years Safety Factor