Experimental Study on Multi-Segmented Circular or Non-Circular Pipes to Determine the Pipe Stiffness

Abstract

A study was carried out to test unitary as well as multi-segmental circular and noncircular glass-reinforced plastic pipes under compression. Three pipe shapes were tested (box, semi-elliptical and round) under identical conditions using the ring stiffness method of testing. Hand layup technique was used for manufacturing the pipes. The pipes were designed with inner layers, central core and outer layers. The inner layer acts as the corrosion barrier layer, the core consists of blended sand impregnated with resin and the outer layer acts as the external layer which protects the pipe from impact. Based on the experimental results, it was concluded that multi-segmental pipes are stiffer and more flexible than unitary pipes because of the loading carrying capacity of the tongue and groove joint (TGJ).