Stress Crack Protocol for Finished Product Testing of Corrugated High Density Polyethylene Pipe

Abstract

Abstract The primary load bearing component of a dual wall corrugated high density polyethylene pipe is the annular corrugated wall. It is this area that necessitates engineering evaluation with regard to the maximum permissible strains and the associated stress crack resistance of this thermoplastic material. This paper presents the protocol for evaluating the stresses in these critical structural members with new testing methods for determining the long-term stress capacity or service life for these members. This test method provides an alternate long-term stress crack evaluation protocol that will allow the user to design piping systems for a desired service life with more accuracy than simply specifying hydrostatic design basis rated resins.