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NCHRP Report 870, Field Performance of Corrugated Pipe Manufactured with Recycled Polyethylene Content, was recently published by the National Academy of Sciences. NCHRP Report 870 summarizes the research conducted in NCHRP Project 4-39, a 3-yr. $600,000 research project awarded to TRI-Environmental and Crossroads Engineering Services. Dr. Pluimer of Crossroads Engineering Services served as co-Principal Investigator of the study and primary author of the report. Other key authors and contributors included Joel Sprague, PE, Jay Sprague, Mario Paredes, Sam Allen and Rick Thomas from TRI-Environmental (Rick was also the PI and primary author of NCHRP Report 696, the predecessor to this research project); Dr. Leslie McCarthy, Dr. Andrea Welker, Dr. Eric Musselman and Jeffrey Cook of Villanova University; Dr. Shad Sargand and Ehab Shaheen of Ohio University; and Kevin White, PE, of E.L. Robinson Engineering.
The report summarizes groundbreaking research that included the development of multiple new ASTM and AASHTO specifications and test methods for pipes manufactured with recycled materials. The research resulted in the incorporation of post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials into AASHTO M 294, the primary specification for large-diameter corrugated high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes used for highway culvert and storm drainage applications, allowing states the option to choose and specify a more sustainable and resilient pipe for these critical components of our transportation infrastructure. Pipes manufactured with recycled materials in accordance with the new AASHTO M 294-18 specification were shown to have a service life in excess of 100 years. A key component of this research was the development of a new test method, the Un-notched Constant Ligament Stress (UCLS) test, published as ASTM F3181-16. The UCLS test is a simple short-term tensile test conducted on test specimens taken directly from the pipe wall and compression-molded into a plaque. When conducted at several different elevated temperature and stress conditions, the relatively short-term test can be used to predict the long-term performance of pipes in various service conditions. Dr. Pluimer and his research team developed a service life prediction model that predicts how long these pipes will last in the field based on their performance in the UCLS test. The service life prediction model was validated on multiple full-scale pipes in both the field and the laboratory. The result was the development of a true performance-based specification (incorporated into AASHTO M 294-18) for corrugated HDPE pipes manufactured with recycled materials, a first for the pipe industry. The test requirements in the new AASHTO M 294-18 specification are designed to ensure that corrugated HDPE pipes manufactured with recycled materials will last in excess of 100 years in highway culvert and storm drainage applications.
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Great coverage in Plastics News regarding Dr. Pluimer's study with Villanova University and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) on the use of corrugated HDPE pipe manufactured with recycled materials for commuter railroad applications.
Excerpt from Article: Researchers at Villanova University recently completed a study of the performance of corrugated, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe containing recycled HDPE resin in commuter rail installations, finding its performance to be indistinguishable from pipe made from virgin material. The three-year old field and laboratory evaluation is an important step in validating the use of corrugated HDPE pipe manufactured with recycled materials for commuter railroad and highway applications. The study was funded cooperatively by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 4-39. ”The railroad industry is reliant on drainage infrastructure materials that are sustainable and resilient and offer a long service life relative to the cyclical live loading conditions typical in these applications,” said study author Dr. Michael Pluimer, a pipe industry authority and PhD graduate from Villanova. Click HERE for full link to article (starting on page 13).  The 2015 Transportation Research Board meeting was held in Washington, DC on January 11 - 15. Over 12,500 engineering and transportation professionals attended the event. Sustainability continues to be a key topic that generates a lot of interest and discussion. A sustainability session was proposed for Committee AFF70 on Culverts and Hydraulic Structures for TRB 2016. Stay tuned for future updates. Click on the image above for a link to information about the 2015 meeting.
Here's another of many articles dealing with our crumbling infrastructure issues in the U.S. This article focuses on the issues in Minnesota. We need to address these failing infrastructure problems with sustainable solutions to ensure our kids don't face the same issues we are.
Minnesota's broken bridges, ruined roads: All agree something must be done |
AuthorMichael Pluimer, Ph.D., owner of Crossroads Engineering Services, LLC, a company focusing on sustainable engineering solutions for our transportation systems. ArchivesCategories |
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