Theoretical and experimental investigation into area increase of longitudinal cracks in pressurised pipes

D. T. Ilunga, M. O. Dinka, D. M. Madyira

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the pipe material stiffness on the behavior of water leakage through a longitudinal crack in pressurised pipe due to the expansion of the crack area. Two theoretical equations were derived for water leakage flow rate through longitudinal cracks opening in a uniaxial and biaxial stress. The two equations were derived as a function of pressure, fluid properties, pipe geometry and pipe mechanical properties, with special emphasis on the pipe material stiffness. The stiffness of the pipe was incorporated in the actual derived equations as a mechanical property to characterise the resistance offered by the elastic behaviour of the material around the crack to deformation due to pressure variations. This is justified, because the material properties were not taken into consideration in the derivation of the orifice equation for flow through openings. The two derived equations were used as mathematical models to predict flow leakage through longitudinal cracks in pressurised water pipes. Results show that the material around the longitudinal crack exhibits elastic expansion behaviour due to hoop stresses induced by internal pressure within the pipe. The leakage exponent values resulting from a Class 6 uPVC pipe, using the two derived equations are much higher than the theoretical value of 0.5; ranging from 1.01 to 2.68 for uniaxial stress state and biaxial stress state conditions respectively. The pipe material stiffness plays a major role in the leakage flow rate behaviour.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCurrent Perspectives and New Directions in Mechanics, Modelling and Design of Structural Systems - Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, 2022
EditorsAlphose Zingoni
PublisherCRC Press/Balkema
Pages638-644
Number of pages7
ISBN (Print)9781003348443
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023
Event8th International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, SEMC 2022 - Cape Town, South Africa
Duration: 5 Sept 20227 Sept 2022

Publication series

NameCurrent Perspectives and New Directions in Mechanics, Modelling and Design of Structural Systems - Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, 2022

Conference

Conference8th International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, SEMC 2022
Country/TerritorySouth Africa
CityCape Town
Period5/09/227/09/22

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Computational Mechanics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Theoretical and experimental investigation into area increase of longitudinal cracks in pressurised pipes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this