Providence Pipe Rehabilitation

A 102-in. prestressed concrete water main pipe in Rhode Island catastrophically failed out and released 20 million liters of water. Condition assessment of the existing pipe sections revealed that other sections of the pipeline could potentially fail due to corrosion of the prestressing steel.

Lightweight carbon fiber composite was used to internally strengthen the aqueduct. The innovative in-situ composite lining system that was designed and installed by the project team created an FRP pipe within the deteriorated pipe sections and was capable alone of resisting all internal and external loads. The FRP liner was designed to carry a factored design pressure of approximately 190-psi. The solution was the fastest, least disruptive, and most economical.