EE231: Water Resources and Transportation Engineering

Pipe materials and their properties, construction

and laying of water pipes
 Introduction
 A water pipe is any pipe designed to
transport treated drinking water/portable
water to consumers/building.

 They differ according to sizes

• Large diameter main pipes, which
supply entire towns

• Small branch lines that supply a

street or group of building

• Small diameter pipes located within

individual building
 Pipe materials
 While deciding on the most suitable pipe materials, the following factors should be taken into
account besides the conveying capacity:
o Maximum and minimum depth of pipe cover
o Details of backfill material
o Anticipated loading on ground surface
o Length and weight for handling and storage
o Resistance to corrosion and chemical action
o Permissible longitudinal and diametric deflection
o Pipe embedment and support conditions
 Pipe materials
 While deciding on the most suitable pipe materials, the following factors should be taken into
account besides the conveying capacity:
o Maximum and minimum depth of pipe cover
o Details of backfill material
o Anticipated loading on ground surface
o Length and weight for handling and storage
o Resistance to corrosion and chemical action
o Permissible longitudinal and diametric deflection
o Pipe embedment and support conditions
 Pipe materials cont’d
o Ease of making repairs and future connections
o Stress to withstand heavy backfill loads without
pipe deformation
o Pipe flexibility to be laid in a curved trench,
o Pipe length with respect to the number of joints
required,
o Risk of damage from third parties
o Deformations caused by extreme temperatures
o Vegetation roots, etc.
Requirement of pipe materials
 It should be capable of with standing internal
and external pressures
 It should have facility of easy joints
 It should be available in all sizes, transport

and erection should be easy.

 It should be durable
 It should not react with water to alter its quality
 Cost of pipes should be less
 Frictional head loss should be minimum
 The damaged units should be replaced easily.
 MATERIALS USED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PIPES

Categories of pipe materials  Plastic pipes

-Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes
 Metallic pipes
-Polyethene (PE) pipes
- Galvanized Irion pipes

- Cast Iron pipes

- Steel pipes

- Copper pipes

 Cement pipes

- Concrete cement pipes

- Asbestos concrete pipes
 DIFFERENT TYPES
 Pipes used for distributing water under pressure  Small-diameter pipes for house
includes: connections were usually either
o Ductile Iron (CI) pipes Copper or Plastic
o Steel pipes
o Galvanized Iron (GI) pipes
o Copper pipes
o Asbestos cement (AC) pipes
o Concrete pipes
o Plastic or Polythene or PVC pipes
 DUCTILE IRON (DI)
• DI is noted for long life, toughness, imperviousness, and resistant to corrosion as well as the ability to withstand
internal pressure and external load

• DI pipes are available in sizes ranging from 50 to 1200 mm in diameter.

• The interior of the pipe is covered by a thin coating of cement mortar about 3 mm thick

• Pipe lengths, normally 5.5 m,

• The most common joints includes:

• Compression-type (slip joints)

• Mechanical joints

• Flanged joints

• Rubber seal
 STEEL PIPES

 Steel pipes are comparatively expensive.

 Typical diameters are between 100 and 1800
mm.
 They are strongest and most durable of all
water supply pipes.
 They can withstand high water pressure

 They can also be easily welded.

 STEEL PIPES
 Steel pipe, used in transmission line, exhibits the
characteristics of high strength, ability to yield without
breaking, and resistance to shock, but careful protection
against corrosion is absolutely necessary.

 A common outside protective coating includes paint primer,

coal tar enamel, and wrapping. The particular materials
applied depend on the corrosive environment of the pipe and
placement, above ground or underground. Interior linings
may be either coal tar enamel or cement mortar.
 GALVANIZED IRON PIPES
 These pipes are wrought steel pipes
provides with zinc coating

 Application areas:
o Water and sewage
o Fire fighting installations
o Plumbing systems
 GALVANIZED IRON PIPES
 Advantages  Disadvantages
o Long life o Heavy to handle
o Toughness o Develop
o Anti-rust pipes blockages
o Used for large construction o Difficult to
projects- durable and large repair
diameter
 GALVANIZED IRON PIPES
 Used “T” connectors to make a branch of a main line, “Y” joints where a single line is split
into two or straight-line connectors to join the ends of two pipes of the same or different
sizes.
 Jointing method
o
Screwed joint
o Grooved joints
o Welded joints
o Flanged joint
 ASBESTOS CEMENT PIPE
• Asbestos cement pipe is composed of a mixture of asbestos fiber, Portland cement, and silica sand

• Asbestos pipe has the advantages of being a non-conductor immune to electrolysis, resistance to
corrosive soil and smooth, providing minimum surface resistance to hydraulic flow.

• Most manufacturers produce asbestos cement water pipe in sizes ranging from 100 mm to 900 mm
diameter in laying lengths of 4 m

• These are provided for three working pressures of 690, 1030, and 1380 kPa, referred to as classes 100,
150, and 200.

• Pipe lengths are joined by special couplings with rubber sealing rings

• The class of pipe chosen for application in a water system depends on internal pressure, external load,
and safety.
CONCRETE PIPES
 Concrete pipe has the advantages of
durability, water tightness, and low
maintenance cost.

 The concrete protects the steel from

corrosion, provides a smooth interior
surface, and contributes high
compressive strength to resist stresses
from external loading.
CONCRETE PIPES
 In drinking water supply, they
will be more frequently laid for
water transport than
distribution.
 They are produced in diameters
of between 100 and 3600 mm.
 The common manufactured
lengths being 2 to 5 m.
 Internal pressure ranging from
280 to 1800 kPa.
 COPPER PIPES
 A large number of service pipes and plumbing inside
premises is made of copper.
 This material is popular as it is relatively cheap and
reliable for large-scale implementation.
 They are not used for distribution pipes, copper tubes
rarely exceed 50 mm in diameter.
 The material is strong and durable.
 Low internal roughness helps to minimize the hydraulic
losses resulting from long pipe lengths
 PVC/PLASTIC/POLYETHYLENE PIPES
 Theses pipes are being used increasingly these days for supply of cold water in external and
internal plumbing work.
 Common types of plastic pipes

(i) Un-Plasticized PVC (UPVC)

-For use with cold water

(ii) Plasticized PVC pipes - which are plasticized with addition of rubber.

-It has lower strength and lower working temperature than UPVC pipes.
PVC/PLASTIC/POLYETHYLENE PIPES
(iii) Chlorinated PVC

-These pipes are very useful in supplying

both hot and cold water. Because these
type of pipe can perform in higher
temperatures (> 120 ̊̊ C )
 PVC/PLASTIC/POLYETHYLENE PIPES
• Plastic/thermoplastic pipe is not subject to corrosion or deterioration by electrolysis, chemical, or biological activity and is
exceptionally smooth, minimizing friction losses in water flow.

• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the plastic preferred for water distribution piping because of its strength and resistance to
internal pressure.

• PVC has a significantly lower modulus of tensile elasticity than iron and is therefore less resistance to pressure surges.

• Commonly manufactured sizes are 100-300 mm, with internal pressure classes of 690, 1030 and 1380 kPa.

• PVC pipe is rated at a standard temperature of 23o C, which is satisfactory for most water distribution systems.

• For joining PVC water mains, the compression joint uses a rubber seal that fits into a recess formed in the belled end.

• Plastic pipe for service connections and household plumbing systems includes PE (polyethylene) and PVC. Sizes available
are 13 mm and larger

• PVC being semi-rigid products, are normally produced in 6 to 12 m lengths.

• Flexible PE pipe is supplied in coils of 30 to 150 m in length. PE is often used in service connections
 PVC/PLASTIC/POLYETHENE PIPES

• Joining of plastic pipe is done by several methods varying with size, application, and

material.

• PE is joined by using inserted fittings and compression jointing.

• The most commonly applied joining methods for PVC pipe are the solvent-weld system

and the belled-end coupling.

• Belled-end PVC joints may employ a solvent weld or rubber gasket

 PVC/PLASTIC/POLYETHENE PIPES
• PE is much less of a long term environmental problem than PVC and the manufacturing process for PE
pipe is simpler and easier to control and as a result is more consistently able to attain a high quality.
• Other advantages of PE pipes include: -
• Its light weight
• Ease of installation
• Low transportation costs
• Good resistance to chemical attack
• Non-corrosive properties
• Low electrical conductivity
• Low wall friction losses
• Good flexural strength.
Construction and laying of water pipes
Construction and laying of water pipes
 Water lines are normally installed within the rights-of-way of the streets

 Cover provides protection against traffic loads and freezing and varies from as little as
0.75 m to 2.4 m (depending on the topographic nature of the area)

 Trench width must be great enough to provide room to join the pipe sections and install
required fittings. Clearance of about 150 mm on either side is normally adequate.

 The trench width may be increased at joints and fittings. An extra depth of 150 mm and
an extra width of 250 mm on either side should be provided for a distance of 900 mm at
the joints.
Construction and laying of water pipes
 In rock excavation, the trench should be cut to a level at least 150 mm below the final grade of
the pipe and a cushion of sand or clean fill should be placed between the rock and the pipe.

 Backfill material should be free of cinders, refuse, and large stones.

 Before pipe sections or fittings are placed in the trench, they should be carefully inspected to
ensure they have not been damaged in transit

 Small iron, concrete and plastic pipes can be lowered into the trench by hand with rope and a
rolling hitch.

 Pipe with internal rubber gaskets or cement lining should not be lifted with hooks, since these
may damage the interior
Pipe Trenches, Soil and Surrounds
Pipe Trenches, Soil and Surrounds
Common to all pipelines laid below ground is the pipe trench and
o

because of variations in definition it has been considered necessary to

provide a clear and precise picture that is used.

Soil and Surrounds play a key role in pipeline design. Knowledge of

o

the natural soils through which a pipe is to be laid is often the key to
success or failure
If the natural soil is less stiff than the embedment material that is
o

placed in the trench around the pipe, this will reduce the support given to
the sides of flexible pipes whilst semi-rigid pipes may experience a loss
of both horizontal and vertical support.
Pipe Trenches, Soil and Surrounds
• The strength of the natural soil within which the pipe trench
is excavated (or the embankment material placed) is
important for the design of all pipelines

• Pipelines derive their strength from a combination of the

intrinsic strength of the pipe and from the support obtained
from the embedment, which as noted above, in turn derives
some of its strength from the surrounding native soil