Systematic state-of-the-art review on precast concrete pipes

Abstract

Using precast concrete pipes to develop sewage water transportation systems is important for keeping hygienic, safe, and sustainable urban environments. This study reviews the state-of-the-art knowledge of the manufacturing processes, materials, curing regimes, design philosophies, laboratory and field tests, and various standards for assessing the quality of precast concrete pipes. Data from various sources such as research publications, technical reports, dissertations, and standards code provisions were gathered and presented in tabular/graphical form to analyze the critical factors that affect concrete pipe behavior. The manufacturing process was found to be an important factor that affects the quality of precast concrete pipes. A review of past failures of pipes showed that cracking, deterioration of concrete, and erosion or voids in concrete pipes were due to biogenic sulfuric acid attack. A comparison of the indirect design and direct design methods for precast concrete pipes was conducted, proving the advantages of the direct design method over the century-old indirect design method. Closed-form equations were presented for the complete distribution of internal forces, i.e., bending moments, shear forces, and thrust forces over the circumference of the pipe. Various challenges including the development of laboratory and field quality assessment tests, and a widely accepted standard of precast concrete pipes were also highlighted. Despite its importance, the field performance of precast concrete pipes was explored in a dearth of previous studies due to its costly procedures. Therefore, long-term monitoring of buried concrete pipes is needed to enhance the understanding of their complex behavior, accounting for the changing soil-pipe interaction, erosion of soil, and deterioration of concrete and steel over time. This study should assist infrastructure stakeholders and operation managers in making informed decisions regarding the choice of materials, design methods, manufacturing, and curing techniques to overcome catastrophic pipe failures and incidents, leading to a safe and sustainable environment and mitigating financial losses due to pipe failures.