Buried Pipe

Design

A. P. Moser, Ph.D.
Mechanical Engineering
Utah State University
Logan, Utah

Second Edition

McGraw-Hill
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Moser, A. P. (Alma P.)

Buried pipe design / A. P. Moser.2nd ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 0-07-043503-0
1. Underground pipelinesDesign and construction. I. Title.
TJ930.M698 2001
621.8'672dc21 00-069939

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 Preface to
Second Edition

In American cities, piping systems are complex and marvelous. But

the average city dweller does not know of, and could not care less
about, buried pipes and simply takes them for granted. This person
cannot contemplate the consequences if these services were to be dis-
rupted. City managers and pipeline engineers are sobered by the pres-
ent-day reality of deteriorating pipe systems. The problem is almost
overwhelming. Engineers who deal with piping systems will be key in
helping to solve this problem. The First (1990) Edition of this book was
well received and hopefully has been of some help to the various prac-
titioners who deal with buried piping systems. It is also hoped that
this Second Edition will be helpful in designing, installing, replacing,
and rehabilitating buried pipe systems.
There has been progress and changes in the 11 years since the First
Edition was published. Thus there are many expansions of and addi-
tions to the material in this new edition. Most of the material that
appeared in 1990 is also included here, resulting in a book almost
twice the size. In addition, there have been many small changes, such
as corrections of the errors that were pointed out by readers. For this
kind help, I offer my sincere thanks.
Following is a list of the subjects covered in each chapter, with special
mention of new material.

Chapter 2, External Loads. Methods are given for the determina-

tion of loads that are imposed on buried pipes, along with the various
factors that contribute to these loads.
The following topics have been added to this Second Edition: mini-
mum soil cover, with a discussion of similitude; soil subsidence; load
due to temperature rise; seismic loads; and flotation.
Chapter 3, Design of Gravity Flow Pipes. Design methods that are
used to determine an installation design for buried gravity flow pipes

ix
x Preface to Second Edition

are described. Soil types and their uses in pipe embedment and back-
fill are discussed. Design methods are placed in two general classes,
rigid pipe design and flexible pipe design. Pipe performance limits are
given, and recommended safety factors are reviewed. The powerful
tool of the finite element method for the design of buried piping sys-
tems is discussed.
The following topics have been added: compaction techniques, E
analysis, parallel pipes and trenches, and analytical methods for pre-
dicting performance of buried flexible pipes.
Chapter 4, Design of Pressure Pipes. This chapter deals with the
design methods for buried pressure pipe installations. Included in this
chapter are specific design techniques for various pressure piping
products. Methods for determining internal loads, external loads, and
combined loads are given along with design bases.
The following topics have been added: corrected theory for cyclic life
of PVC pipe, and strains induced by combined loading in buried pres-
surized flexible pipe.
Chapter 5, Rigid Pipe Products. This chapter deals with generic
rigid pipe products. For each product, selected standards and material
properties are listed. The standards are from standards organizations
such as the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Actual design examples for
the various products are given.
The following topics have been added: the direct method, design
strengths for concrete pipe, and SPIDA (soil-pipe interaction design and
analysis).
Chapter 6, Steel and Ductile Iron Flexible Pipe Products. This
chapter deals with generic steel and ductile iron pipe products. For
each product, selected standards and material properties are listed.
The standards are from standards organizations such as AWWA and
ASTM. Actual design examples for the various products are given.
The following topics have been added: three-dimensional FEA mod-
eling of a corrugated steel pipe arch, tests on spiral ribbed steel pipe,
test on low-stiffness ribbed steel pipe, and testing of ductile iron pipe.
Chapter 7, Plastic Flexible Pipe Products. This chapter deals with
generic rigid pipe products. For each product, selected standards and
material properties are listed. The standards are from standards orga-
nizations such as AWWA and ASTM. Actual design examples for the
various products are given.
The following topics have been added: long-term stress relaxation
and strain testing of PVC pipes, frozen-in stresses, cyclic pressures and
elevated temperatures, the AWWA study on the use of PVC, long-term
ductility of PE, the ESCR and NCTL tests for PE, and full-scale testing
of HDPE profile-wall pipes.
 Preface to Second Edition xi

Chapter 8, Pipe Installation and Trenchless Technology. The mate-

rial in this chapter is entirely new to this book. It includes information
on pipe handling and trenching as well as some safety aspects. The
Trenchless Technology section contains information for the fast-
growing trenchless methods for installing and rehabilitating pipelines.

A. P. Moser, Ph.D.
 Acknowledgments

Truly, piping system theory and application has been largely developed
starting with Marstons premiere paper on loads, published in 1913, and
Spanglers paper on flexible pipe, published in 1941. One could say that
we are where we are today because we have been carried on the backs of
giants who went before us. As the author of this book, I realize how much
I am indebted to others who had the foresight and a desire to obtain
answers where sometimes there were only questions. As an undergrad-
uate student, I had the opportunity to work for Dr. R. K. Watkins on his
buried structures projects. He had worked with Prof. Spangler. After
obtaining a Ph.D. degree and returning to Utah State University (USU),
I again worked with Dr. Watkins, this time as a colleague. It was at this
time, in 1967, that USU, under the direction of Dr. Watkins, constructed
the large pipe testing facility, under a contract from the American Iron
and Steel Institute (AISI). Those on the technical committee of AISI at
the time were people whom I consider to be giants in their profession,
engineers with great foresight. Much of the material in this book is tied
in some way to these individuals. I am indebted (indeed, we are all
indebted) to them. In the testing facility archives, I found photographs of
the committee taken at USU about 1967. Also in the photos are some
USU personnel. (See Figs. P.1 and P.2.)
In the preparation of this Second Edition, I have drawn greatly from
the First Edition. Also, source material is used from various standards
and handbooks. Acknowledgment is given throughout the book where
this material is used.
I express my deepest appreciation to those who helped to make this
edition possible. I am indebted to:

Dr. Mohammad Najafi of Missouri Western State College, who pro-

vided much of the material on trenchless technology found in Chap. 8.
Thanks goes to Dr. Najafi and others who helped with the publica-
tions he supplied. His works with his coauthors are found in the
References of Chap. 8.

xiii
xiv Acknowledgments

Figure P.1 AISI committee with newly completed test cell. (Photograph taken about 1967.)

Figure P.2 AISI committee and some USU personnel in a USU conference room. (Photo-
graph taken about 1967.)
 Acknowledgments xv

Dr. Reynold K. Watkins (Professor Emeritus) of Utah State University,

for his many years of help and encouragement.
The many sponsors of pipe research and testing who, over the years,
have allowed me to gain both theoretical and practical knowledge,
understanding, and insight into problems and solutions pertaining
to buried piping systems. This understanding forms the foundation
of this book.
The many publishers who graciously gave permission to use their
materials.
My staff assistants at Utah State University, Andrea and Janet, for
their tremendous help.
My wife Kay for proofreading the manuscript, and for her general
patience and understanding during the preparation of this new
edition.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A. P. Moser, Ph.D., is professor and associate dean at Utah
State University. He is also founder and director of the
Piping Systems Institute, which is a short course that
helps train practicing engineers in the design of buried
piping systems. He serves on piping committees of the
Transportation Research Board and is the past chairman
of the committee on culverts and hydraulic structures. He
is a consultant to many municipalities, pipe manufacturing
companies, and engineering firms. He serves on many
bodies that develop codes and specifications for buried
piping systems.