Experimental Investigation on Mechanical Properties of Plastic Pipes Reinforced by Cross Helically Steel Wires

Abstract

A Polyethylene (PE) pipe reinforced by a cross-winding steel wire (PSP) is a new type of plastic-matrix steel composite pipe, which has excellent performance. Its short-time burst pressure, strain, critical buckling pressure, and failure mode under various temperatures were investigated. Experimental results show that PSP has an increase of short-time burst pressure at room temperature up to 129%, ring stiffness up to 19%, and critical buckling pressure up to 57% in comparison with a comparable PE pipe. Failure modes of PSP subjected to internal pressure under various temperatures are found to be ductile burst and excessive deformation, and their transition temperature is about 45°C. Moreover, at the same pressure, the radial expansion ratio of PSP only bearing radial force is much larger than that of PSP bearing both radial and axial forces.