TxDOT Research Library - Publication Details

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Title:

Large Diameter HDPE Pipe for Highway Drainage: Development of New Specifications

Report No.:

Summary Report 0-1809-S

Authors:

Priyantha W. Jayawickrama [and three others]

Published:

2001

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University. Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation (TechMRT)

Series:

Project Summary Report

Type:

Leaflet + Online document

1 leaflet (2 pages)

Online Access:

https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/hostedpdfs/txdot/ps...

Summary

Historically, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has used Reinforced Concrete Pipe (RCP) and Corrugated Metal Pipe (CMP) for highway drainage applications. In recent years, high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe in large diameter (36in and larger) has emerged in the market place as a viable alternative. This type of pipe offers a number of advantages over its more traditional counterparts. Its primary advantages are lower pipe price, and lighter weight that allows their installation with a smaller construction crew and equipment. Generally, when granular backfill is used HDPE pipe can be installed at lower cost. However, there are some drawbacks in the use of HDPE pipe. Its primary drawback stems from its sensitivity to installation conditions. HDPE pipe is flexible, and requires good support from surrounding backfill to withstand loads. To ensure good backfill support, existing AASHTO and ASTM specifications recommend the use of compaction control based on minimum field density requirements. The installation guidelines for HDPE pipe require pipe deflection measurements as well. It is neither customary nor practical for highway agencies to use such elaborate QC/QA measures in their routine pipe installation projects. Therefore, as an alternative to this approach, TxDOT required flowable fill in all HDPE pipe installations with the exception of side road and driveway culverts. Flowable fill eliminates the need for compaction control in the field. However, it increases the cost of pipe installation significantly. This research was initiated with the primary objective of identifying alternative backfill materials, such as granular fill that would provide both reliability and economy in HDPE pipe installations.

Publ. Place

Lubbock, Texas

Study Number

TxDOT Research Project 0-1809

Study Title

Evaluation of Backfill Materials and Installation Methods for High Density Polyethylene Pipe

Lead University

TechMRT

Print Copy

Collection:

TxDOT/University Research PSR

Call Number:

1809 PSR

Copies Owned:

Loan Copy

More Like This

Topics

Backfill soils
Cement treated soils
Corrugated pipe
Diameter
Drainage structures
Economic analysis
Economics
Field tests
Flowable fill
Granular soils
Installation
Load tests
Metals
Monitoring
Pipe
Pipe culverts
Plastic pipe
Reinforced concrete pipe
Reliability
Research projects
Specifications
State departments of transportation
Surveys

Proper Names

High density polyethylene pipes (HDPE)

Contributed Tags