You Should Know Bulletin No. 135© ACPA All Rights Reserved

Performance Performance HistoryHistory

• PlanningPlanning

• HydrologyHydrology

• HydraulicsHydraulics

• StructuralStructural

• InstallationInstallation

• SpecificationsSpecifications

• Life Cycle CostsLife Cycle Costs

VALUE ENGINEERINGVALUE ENGINEERING

PIPE JOINT PERFORMANCEPIPE JOINT PERFORMANCE

• Provide Pipeline Continuity

• Assure a Smooth Flow Line

• Resist Exfiltration of Effluent

• Resist Infiltration of Groundwater and Backfill Material

• Accommodate Lateral and Longitudinal Movement

• Resist Shear and Deformation

Notice here how the tie holding the nested pipe in

place is causing distortion in the joint bell.

So, what happens when a contractor

attempts to put together pipe that

has distorted bells.

Joint leakage allowing backfill infiltration and ultimately pipe

failure.

NEW CONSTRUCTION NEW CONSTRUCTION USING HDPE PIPEUSING HDPE PIPE

WITH JOINT WITH JOINT DEFORMATION DURING DEFORMATION DURING

SITE STORAGESITE STORAGE

AND ULTIMATELY PIPE AND ULTIMATELY PIPE FAILURE & REPLACEMENTFAILURE & REPLACEMENT

DEFLECTION RESULTING DEFLECTION RESULTING IN BACKFILL IN BACKFILL INFILTRATION AT JOINTSINFILTRATION AT JOINTS

CONCRETE PIPE JOINTS OFFER SEVERAL OPTIONS CONCRETE PIPE JOINTS OFFER SEVERAL OPTIONS

Confined O-Ring Rubber Gasket Joint

Single Offset Rubber Gasket Joint

Mastic Sealant Joint

Mortar Joint

CONCRETE PIPE JOINTS OFFER SEVERAL ADVANTAGES CONCRETE PIPE JOINTS OFFER SEVERAL ADVANTAGES OVER HDPE PIPE JOINTS OVER HDPE PIPE JOINTS

• Joints are thick and rigid to prevent any deformation

• Joints and gaskets are governed by national specifications

• Joints combine great shear strength and flexibility

• Joints provide excellent watertightness

• Joints can withstand up to13 psi pressure – the equivalent of 30 feet

of groundwater pressure head

Toledo Zoo

Sample Installations

TOLEDO ZOO PARKING LOTTOLEDO ZOO PARKING LOT

DRAINAGE PIPE SIZES & QUANTITIESDRAINAGE PIPE SIZES & QUANTITIES

Pipe Size QuantityPipe Size Quantity

(inches) (feet)(inches) (feet)

12 159412 1594

15 63315 633

18 31118 311

21 33121 331

24 13624 136

27 20027 200

30 40030 400

STORM SEWER PLAN LAYOUTSTORM SEWER PLAN LAYOUT

50,000 Gallon Storage Capacity50,000 Gallon Storage Capacity

8” OUTLET

30” 27” 24” 21” 18” 15” 12”

12” LATERALS

ASTM Standard of Practice D2321ASTM Standard of Practice D2321

Underground Installation of Thermoplastic PipeUnderground Installation of Thermoplastic Pipe

forfor

Sewers and Other Gravity-Flow ApplicationsSewers and Other Gravity-Flow Applications

• Restrictions on use of Classes of embedment and backfill materialRestrictions on use of Classes of embedment and backfill material• Maximum particle sizeMaximum particle size• Restrictions on mode of dewateringRestrictions on mode of dewatering• Requirements on minimum trench widthRequirements on minimum trench width• Restrictions and details for support of trench wallsRestrictions and details for support of trench walls• Specific restrictions on methods of compactionSpecific restrictions on methods of compaction• Minimum embedment densityMinimum embedment density• Minimum cover requirementsMinimum cover requirements• Detailed requirements for manhole connectionsDetailed requirements for manhole connections• Requirements on methods of testing compaction and leakageRequirements on methods of testing compaction and leakage• Requirements on deflection and deflection testingRequirements on deflection and deflection testing• Limits on usage of trench boxesLimits on usage of trench boxes• Select backfill and compaction required to 6”-12” above top of pipeSelect backfill and compaction required to 6”-12” above top of pipe

““If the pipe product is approved If the pipe product is approved by the State Department of by the State Department of

Transportation, it must be an Transportation, it must be an acceptable pipe material, and, acceptable pipe material, and, therefore, appropriate for our therefore, appropriate for our

particular application.”particular application.”

Famous Last Words

Immediately after pipe installation and paving, significant Immediately after pipe installation and paving, significant pavement settlement occurred at every 20-foot joint pavement settlement occurred at every 20-foot joint

length. Initially, attempts were made to patch the length. Initially, attempts were made to patch the settlement areas, but the pavement settlement became settlement areas, but the pavement settlement became

progressively worse after every rain storm. progressively worse after every rain storm.

PATCH

PATCH

Saw-cut pavementSaw-cut pavement

to remove HDPE to remove HDPE pipepipePAVEMENT PATCH

PATCH

PATCH

PAVEMENT PATCH

PATCH

PATCH

Pipe Joints

TEARING UP NEW PAVEMENT, EXCAVATING TEARING UP NEW PAVEMENT, EXCAVATING and and

REMOVING FAILED HDPE PIPEREMOVING FAILED HDPE PIPE

STRUCTURE REPLACEMENTSTRUCTURE REPLACEMENT

PARKING LOT PARTIAL PAVEMENT REPLACEMENT FOR REMOVAL OF

HDPE PIPE and INSTALLATION OF RCP

DES

IGN

EN

GIN

EER

DES

IGN

EN

GIN

EER

LIAB

ILITY

LIAB

ILITY

ConduitConduit

PipePipe

StructureStructure

Concrete PipeConcrete Pipe

StructureStructure ConduitConduit

Flexible PipeFlexible Pipe

ConduitConduitStructureStructure

?

?

??

? ?? ?

LOW BID INC.LOW BID INC.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Stre

ngth

Con

trib

utio

n, %

5 F

eet

of C

over

RCP 24" HDPE 36" HDPE 48" HDPE

Pipe Type

Pipe Strength vs. Installation Contribution

Pipe Soil

LAWSUITS REPORTED BY ADSLAWSUITS REPORTED BY ADS

for TUBULAR PROFILE WALL HDPE PIPEfor TUBULAR PROFILE WALL HDPE PIPE

Is It Worth The Risk?Is It Worth The Risk?

REFERENCESAmerican Concrete Pipe Association

You Should Know:• #121 Installation Anomalies• #128 A Case In Point• #131 When is the Correct Pipe Material Important?

Concrete Insights:•  Handling & Installation Comparisons•  Concrete or HDPE: Strength versus Stiffness•  Concrete Pipe Joints – Your Best Choice

Brochures:•  Concrete Pipe Joints, Your Best Choice•  Standard Installations•  The Infrastructure is Collapsing!

Dispatch: A Case in Point for Choosing Concrete Pipe

National Specifications: • ASTM D 2321, Standard practice for Underground Installation of Thermoplastic Pipe for Sewers

and Other Gravity–Flow Applications• AASHTO Section 30, LRFD Bridge Construction Specifications