Numerical Analysis of Cured-in-Place Pipe Structural Liner for Underground Pipeline Rehabilitation

Pipeline infrastructure is essential to the economy of society and the life quality of the residents. Due to aging as time, corrosion, cracks, or damages induced by earth movements might occur in aging cast-iron pipelines, resulting in a leak or explosion and causing potential losses of lives and properties. Trenchless technology such as cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) structural liner is an effective way to rehabilitate the aging cast-iron pipelines. As an affordable and flexible trenchless alternative, epoxy resin is a widely used CIPP liner material for preventing leakage and increasing the service of cast-iron pipelines. To investigate the effect of epoxy resin liner on underground pipeline maintenance and rehabilitation, we conduct three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis (FEA) to simulate the mechanical properties of CIPP liner for underground pipeline rehabilitation. A parametric study is performed to identify the effect of factors such as liner thickness, buried depth, and in-pipe pressure on the mechanical performance of the CIPP liner. The numerical analysis results presented in this study can be used to optimize the CIPP liner design and guide the trenchless construction and maintenance procedures for pipeline infrastructure.