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Large-Diameter Sewer Rehabilitation Using a Spray-Applied Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Mortar
Citation:
Matthews, J., A. Selvakumar, S. Vaidya, AND W. Condit. Large-Diameter Sewer Rehabilitation Using a Spray-Applied Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Mortar. Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), New York, NY, 20(4):04014050, (2015).
Impact/Purpose:
Many utilities are seeking emerging and innovative rehabilitation technologies to extend the service life of their infrastructure systems. However, information on new technologies is not always readily available and at the same time is not easy to obtain. To help to provide this information, research is being conducted as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Aging Water Infrastructure Research Program to evaluate promising innovative technologies that can reduce costs and improve the effectiveness of the operation, maintenance, and renewal of aging drinking water distribution and wastewater collection systems. The research includes field demonstration studies of emerging and innovative rehabilitation technologies, which is intended to make the capability of these technologies better known to the water and wastewater industries, allowing their applications to be promoted in the U.S. The specific technology metrics evaluated under this program include technology maturity, feasibility, complexity, performance, cost, and environmental impact.
Description:
In order to assist the utilities in making well informed maintenance decisions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed an innovative technology demonstration program to evaluate technologies that have the potential to reduce costs and increase the effectiveness of the operation, maintenance, and renewal of aging water distribution and wastewater collection systems. Under this initiative, the performance of a new corrosion resistant fiber reinforced geopolymer mortar was evaluated. The fiber reinforced geopolymer mortar was spray applied to rehabilitate a preselected 160 ft. long, 60-in. reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) sewer main in Houston, Texas. At an approximate cost of from $400 to $600 per linear foot, a 3.3 in. thick layer was uniformly sprayed on to the pipe’s interior, surpassing the minimum design thickness value of 1.9 in. The average 28 day compressive strength results of the coating were measured to be around 8,635 pounds per square inch (psi), which is above the manufacturer stated claim of 8,000 psi at 28 days. The post-lining inspection via closed-circuit television (CCTV) showed a successful rehabilitation with no signs of infiltration, exposed rebar, cracking, and any significant defects. In addition, the project resulted in a carbon footprint of an estimated 60% less than an equivalent excavation project.
