Design of a Large Diameter Steel Reinforced Plastic Pipe

Abstract

A steel reinforced plastic pipe (PSP), which is composed of two layers of high density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix and a high strength steel wire mesh skeleton, has wide applications in many industrial areas, such as gas and petroleum transportation, etc. In order to achieve higher efficency and lower costs, a large diameter PSP has been developed. However, requirements of the large diameter PSP in safety and economy are much higher, compared with those small diameter PSPs, and some potential problems should be taken into account. In this paper, relevant structural parameters of the large diameter PSP are determined, based on a previously proposed model, and a short-term burst test is carried out. The experiment results agree with the theoretical results quite well. Subsequently, the resistance of vertical pressure and uniform external pressure are evaluated by using experiment investigation and finite element method, respectively. And corresponding results indicate the large diameter PSP with determined structural parameters is qualified to use.