Durability Design of Corrugated Steel Pipes

John C. Huang, Ph.D., PE

Course Outline

Corrugated steel pipes (CSP) have been used widely in the construction industry, and is among the top-rated products for infrastructure. In this lesson, you are required to study Chapter 8 of Modern Sewer Design: Durability (1999 edition), which provides detailed discussion regarding the factors affecting CSP durability, field studies of CSP durability, available coatings for CSP, and AISI method for CSP service life prediction. This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

• Understand the importance of durability design aspect of the corrugated steel pipes;
• Be familiar with the different types of coating available for the corrugated steel pipes; and
• Be able to calculate the service life of different types of corrugated steel pipes.

Course Content

Steel pipes represent the oldest application of steel in infrastructures. In 1863, a five-mile riveted steel pipeline began supplying water to San Francisco. Nearly a quarter century later, in 1887, the installation of the first welded steel water pipe was completed. Both of these installations, key factors in the growth and development of a young America, are still in service today - a testament to steel's durability. In the new century, steel water and sewer pipe applications will continue to lead the way in providing cost-effective, durable solutions to the world's water distribution and drainage demands.

Corrugated steel pipes (CSP) was introduced in 1896. Since then, CSP has been used widely in the construction industry, and is among the top-rated products for infrastructure because it withstands the stress caused by heavy traffic and unstable foundation better than most other materials.

In drainage systems, corrugated steel pipe provides years of durability. Its wide-ranging applications includes storm sewers, culverts, spillways, subdrains, underpasses, conveyor conduits, service tunnels and retention and detention systems. Corrugated steel can be fabricated to the exact material specifications. Like steel water pipe, the service life of CSP can be designed through the use of different metallic coatings and gauges, as well as additional nonmetallic coatings and/or invert treatment.

Steel is a homogenous material. Steel's material properties are statistically reliable and do not vary with time. Steel is not prone to cracking due to cyclic loading and freeze/thaw cycles. The ductile behavior of corrugated steel pipes is beneficial in overloading conditions caused by earthquakes, cave-ins, washouts, extreme temperature changes, traffic vibration, unstable foundation and blasting.

Corrugated Steel Pipe (CSP) is available in various shapes and sizes. The round pipe standard size ranges from 6 in. to 26 ft. (150 mm to 8 m) and is available in larger sizes. Pipe arches and long span structural plate arches are available in many combinations of rises and spans. Pipe arches and arches have been used with and without stiffeners for spans of 80 ft. (25m) and 110 ft. (33.5 m), respectively.

Maintenance cost for CSP can be effectively controlled through modern structural and durability design criteria. The behavior of both soil side and the effluent side of the pipe have been rigorously studied. Research has shown that CSP generally provides outstanding soil side durability, and with proper coating and/or invert paving can virtually attain any required service life. To aid designers in selecting the appropriate corrosion protection, the American Iron and Steel Institute and The National Corrugated Steel Pipe Institute have developed the Corrugated Steel Pipe Durability Guide (free download) and a new windows-based CSP design software (free download)(WinZip is required to unzip the downloaded software file).

In this lesson, you are required to study Chapter 8 of Modern Sewer Design: Durability (1999 edition, 19 pages), which provides detailed discussion regarding the factors affecting CSP durability, field studies of CSP durability, available coatings for CSP, and AISI method for CSP service life prediction. This technical document can be downloaded or printed free of charge.

Once you finish studying the Chapter 8 of Modern Sewer Design, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH units.

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Additional Technical Resource and Further Readings:

To download the entire Modern Sewer Design Handbook, please click on the following link: Modern Sewer Design (1999 edition, 337 pages, PDF format).

A full paper version of Modern Sewer Design may be ordered by calling 1-800-277-3850 and requesting publication number T-299 ($30 plus shipping and handling).

The Handbook of Steel Drainage and Highway Construction Products may be ordered by calling 1-800-277-3850 and requesting publication number SG-681 ($28 plus shipping and handling).

The Canadian version of the Handbook of Steel Drainage and Highway Construction Products may be ordered from the Corrugated Steel Pipe Institute (phone: 519-650-8080).

To learn about the structural design of the corrugated steel pipes, please click on the following link: Structural Design of CSP (NCSPA).

For more information on corrugated steel pipes, please click on the following links: National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association (NCSPA) or American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

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Acknowledgment:

PDHonline acknowledges the sponsorship of American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) for this online course.

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Once you finish studying the Chapter 8 of Modern Sewer Design, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH units.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.