CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 the water distribution system as well as the

sanitary and storm sewer systems.

detection programs are not necessary in the
sectors where the water distribution lines are
constructed with PVC pipes. “This fact allows
us to concentrate our limited resources
where they are most needed, in the sectors
built with iron pipe,” states Mr. Perreault,
who points out that flushing is also a thing of
the past for the PVC sectors.
To this day, the Technical Services officials for
the West Infrastructures Division of Quebec
City, which includes the Burroughs of Sainte-
Foy-Sillery and Laurentien, are specifying PVC
pipes for constructing and rehabilitating its
water distribution system. While Mr. Proulx is
“THIS FACT ALLOWS US TO CONCENTRATE OUR LIMITED
RESOURCES WHERE THEY ARE MOST NEEDED, IN THE SECTORS
BUILT WITH IRON PIPE”
now enjoying a well-deserved retirement, Mr.
Perreault is supported by a new technical
team, which includes Mr. Donald Desrosiers, P.
Eng. Mr. Desrosiers also recognizes the sever-
al qualities of PVC pipes that make it a reliable
investment for underground infrastructure for
A majority of North American cities are recog-
nizing the efficiency and high reliability of PVC
pipes by authorizing their use for infrastructure
construction. The Burroughs of Sainte-Foy
Sillery decision makers have gone one step fur-
ther in recognizing the superior performance
of the PVC material by specifying its sole use in
order to promote sustainable development.
In addition to the citizens living in the bur-
roughs, all Quebec City citizens are benefit-
ing from the superior performance of PVC Mr. Perreault (right) was one of the decision makers who
water pipes; their use allows the city engi- laid the groundwork for lasting infrastructure by using
PVC for the Burrough of Sainte-Foy. Mr. Desrosiers (left) is
neers to devote their efforts to the sectors
a part of the current team that continues the legacy of
lasting infrastructure by using PVC for Quebec City’s
cities are struggling to breach the infrastruc-
ture gap, which is caused mainly by corro-
sion, there are solutions available that will
allow the building of reliable infrastructure
where conventional materials are currently within a sustainable development concept.
failing due to corrosion, knowing that the The professionals of the Sainte-Foy-Sillery
PVC sectors will continue to offer their supe- Laurentien Burroughs of Quebec City have
rior level of performance. shown it is possible. Follow their lead and
you will soon be writing one of the most
At this juncture where all North American durable chapters of your own city’s history.

PVC Pressure Pipe

Endures Over
Ten Million
Cycles
Figure 1:
Test Apparatus for cyclic testing. The blue pipe is AWWA
C900, DR18, from Phase I. The white pipe is ASTM D2241,
SDR41, introduced in Phase II

By Craig Fisher, P.E. over 10 million cycles without which has a Pressure Class of 150 the AWWA C900 specimens fail-
Technical Director any failures. Ten Million! That psi, between 185 psi and 235 psi ing. The pump and the pressure
is a one with seven zeros after for exactly 10,209,535 cycles. At relief valve did not fare as well.

N
o, it is not a typographi-
cal error. Ten specimens
of six-inch, DR 18,
AWWA C900 pipe endured
it: 10,000,000!
The researchers at Utah State
University (USU) cycled the DR 18,
18 cycles per minute, it took a
total of 394 days and two research
phases to finish the testing. The
test was stopped without any of
During the testing, USU failed six
pumps and five relief valves in
order to log ten million cycles on
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

P V C P I P E N E W S • S P R I N G 2 0 0 4 9

Test Specimen Description
One DR 18, AWWA C900, PC 150 psi
Two SDR 41, ASTM D2241, PR 100 psi
Three SDR 41, ASTM D2241, PR 100 psi
Four SDR 41, ASTM D2241, PR 100 psi
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
the PVC pipe. The test set-up is
shown in Figure 1 on page 9. The
blue pipe is the AWWA C900
pipe, and the white pipe is six-
inch, SDR 41, ASTM D2241 pipe.
This testing was a part of Phase II
of USU’s research project on the
cyclic capabilities of PVC pres-
sure pipe. In the Spring 2001
edition of the PVC News, we
reported on the research results
from Phase I and said that more
data points would be collected.
Well the data is in, and the
results are impressive.
Background
Figure 3: New cyclic design chart updated after collecting extra data points from the second phase of testing.
1 0
TABLE 1. TEST PRESSURES
Minimum Pressure
(psi)
185
82
0 154
56.5
Uni-Bell first contracted with
USU in 1999 to re-evaluate the
cyclic capabilities of PVC pres-
sure pipe. At the time, there
were two competing theories.
DURING THE TESTING,
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY FAILED SIX
AND FIVE RELIEF VALVES IN ORDER TO LOG TEN
MILLION CYCLES ON THE
The first theory was developed
by Vinson and stated that the
cyclic life of PVC was a function
of peak stress only. (The third
Stress Amplitude (psi)
Number of Cycles
AND STRESSES
Maximum Pressure Mean Stress Stress Amplitude
(psi) (psi) (psi)
235 1787 213
123 2000 400
1500 1500
149 2000 900
edition of The Handbook of PVC lished his finding in February of
Pipe: Design and Construction 2001. That testing showed that
shows Vinson’s theory.) The the cyclic life of PVC was a func-
Europeans had a competing the- tion of two variables - not one.
ory that stated the cyclic life was PVC pipe fatigue is a function of
both the mean stress and the
stress amplitude. (The fourth
edition of the Handbook, pub-
lished in August of 2001, shows
PUMPS
Moser’s 2001 theory.)
Phase I
PVC PIPE .
The first phase involved only
AWWA C900 pipe. As mentioned
earlier, this pipe was cycled from
a function of only the stress
185 psi to 235 psi, which resulted
amplitude. Dr. Moser complet-
in an average stress of 1,787 psi
ed the first phase of the testing
and a stress amplitude of 213 psi.
in the summer of 2000 and pub-
Vinson’s formula predicted failure
at 322,000 cycles. After success-
fully logging 3.5 million cycles, the
first phase of testing was conclud-
ed and a new cyclic theory for
PVC was published. However, Dr.
Moser stated that more data
points were needed in order to
fine-tune the design chart that he
developed.
Phase II
So in April of 2001, Uni-Bell
entered its second contract on
this project with USU in order to
continue the work begun in
Phase I. This time, ASTM D2241
PVC pipe would be subjected to
pressures and amplitudes well
beyond that recommended in
the design standards. Also, the
testing on the AWWA C900 pipe
would be re-started.
SDR 41, ASTM D2241 pipe, with a
Pressure Rating of 100 psi, was
selected for the abusive cyclic
CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
P V C P I P E N E W S • S P R I N G 2 0 0 4
 The How-To
Handbook of PVC Pipe
522 PAGES

The only complete reference

for those who plan, design,
install and operate PVC sys-
tems for municipal water
mains, sanitary sewer and
storm water drainage systems.
If you are planning, or now
operate a PVC pressure or
non-pressure system, this
handbook is a must!

O N L Y $ 4 0 P E R C O P Y
(Includes postage and handling for US and Canadian orders.)
Figure 2: The cyclic pressures applied during testing followed a sawtooth pattern. Payable in US Funds, Texas Residents add 8.25 percent sales tax.

Plus air mail charges:

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
pressure combinations. Using pipe with a higher dimension
ratio allowed higher stresses to be generated in the pipe wall
at lower pressures. Generating the same stresses in DR 18
would require a prohibitively expensive pumping system.
Also, the researchers learned in Phase I to expect equipment
failures. The extreme pressures take their toll on the equip-
ment, and so, replacement pumps were a large part of the
equipment cost in the research budget.
Table 1 on page 10 shows the average pressure and
amplitude for the four pressure combinations. The corre-
sponding wall stresses are also listed.
The pattern of cyclic pressure applied was a sawtooth.
The computer screen in Figure 2 (above) displays the
pressure wave applied. The minimum and maximum pres-
sures on Test One were regulated to within +/- 5 psi. A
more accurate control system was used on Test Two,
Three, and Four. Pressures were regulated to within +/- 3
psi. Temperature was 22°C +/- 2 (71.6°F +/- 3.6).
Cyclic Design Graph
With the help of the new data points, a fine-tuned design
graph is now available. It appears in Figure 3 on page 10.
The chart is a wonderful design tool for engineers
involved in turf irrigation or sewer force main design.
Those types of systems sometimes see surges of greater
magnitude with greater frequency. We plan a follow-up
article that provides a cyclic design example for a force
main system.
❑ Mexico $16/bk ❑ All Other Countries $28/bk
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Dallas, Texas 75234
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