The Unfavourable Impact of Street Traffic on Water Distribution Pipelines

Ioan Așchilean,Mihai Iliescu,Nicolae Ciont,Ioan Giurca

doi:10.3390/w10081086

Ioan Așchilean, Mihai Iliescu + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/w10081086

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Abstract

This article analyses the relation between the failures that occurred in the water supply network and the road traffic in the city of Cluj-Napoca in Romania. The calculations in this case study were made using the Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional 2011 software. In the case study, the following types of pipes were analysed: steel, gray cast iron, ductile cast iron and high density polyethylene (HDPE). While in most studies only a few sections of pipelines, several types of pipelines and certain mounting depths have been analysed, the case study presented analyses the entire water supply system of a city with a population of 324,576 inhabitants, whose water supply system has a length of 479 km. The results of the research are useful in the design phase of water distribution networks, so depending on the type of pipe material, the minimum depth of installation can be indicated, so as to avoid the failure of the pipes due to road traffic. From this perspective, similar studies could also be carried out regarding the negative influence of road traffic on sewerage networks, gas networks and heating networks.

Highlights

The pipelines of water distribution systems must withstand ground loading, groundwater loading and road traffic loading
If the pipes do not withstand the load of the road traffic, for the same nominal pipe diameter we can choose a pipe with a thicker wall, so that it can withstand the load of the road traffic
It is found that street road traffic exerts a certain influence on the constituents of the water distribution networks, depending on the building materials and the geometric configurations of the constituents, capable of generating defects of the water distribution networks

Summary

Introduction

The pipelines of water distribution systems must withstand ground loading, groundwater loading and road traffic loading. In this case, the pipeline is treated as a structure as well as a fluid transport pipe and it is designed to fulfil these two functions throughout its lifetime [1]. The frequency of breakage and failure of pipes in water distribution networks is increased over time mainly due to deterioration; when pipes deteriorate, the operation and maintenance costs typically increase, and the hydraulic network capacity and the quality of service decrease [2]. The aging of water distribution infrastructure due to environmental factors; inadequate preventive maintenance and asset management programmes; inappropriate funds and changed municipal priorities; lack of information and staff.

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