Experimental and FE Investigations of Backfill Cover on Large-Diameter GRP Pipes

Author(s)/Creator(s)

AbdulMuttalib I. Said
Yahya Jabbar Hussein
Mohammed Hazim Mohammed
Abbas A. Allawi

Publication Title

CivilEng

Document Type

Article

Abstract/Description

This paper presents experimental investigations on buried Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) pipes with a diameter of 1400 mm. The tested pipes were buried in dense, gravelly sand and subjected to traffic loads to study the effects of backfill cover on pipe deflection. The experimental program included tests on three GRP pipes with backfill covers of 100 cm, 75 cm, and 50 cm. The maximum traffic loads applied to the pipe–soil system corresponded to Iraqi Truck Type 3 (AASHTO Htype). Vertical deflections of the pipes were monitored during the application of these loads. The experimental results showed that, as the backfill cover increased, the maximum vertical deflection of the pipe decreased. Deflection reductions were 38.0% and 33.3% when the backfill increased from 50 cm to 100 cm and from 50 cm to 75 cm, respectively. A 500 mm compacted backfill cover was found to be sufficient to resist traffic loads, with the vertical deflection percentage remaining below the allowable limit. Additionally, the behavior of the GRP pipes under different traffic load configurations was analyzed using finite element (FE) analysis with Plaxis 3D. The model was validated using field data. The study investigated numerous variables impacting the behavior of embedded pipes, including pipe material, pipe thickness, backfill properties, backfill depth, and the properties of the soil beneath the GRP pipe. The deflections of the steel pipe were lower than those of the GRP pipe when using different thicknesses.

Department

Engineering and Technology

First Page

646

Last Page

672

DOI

10.3390/civileng5030035

Volume

5

ISSN

2673-4109

Date

8-7-2024

Citation Information

Said, AbdulMuttalib I.; Hussein, Yahya Jabbar; Mohammed, Mohammed Hazim; and Allawi, Abbas A., "Experimental and FE Investigations of Backfill Cover on Large-Diameter GRP Pipes" (2024). Faculty Publications. 209.
https://digitalcommons.tamuc.edu/cose-faculty-publications/209