Technical insights address thermal expansion and UV protection in high-density polyethylene pipe systems, highlighting design complexities and material properties.
There are many uses for above-ground installations of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) due to its ultraviolet (UV) radiation resistance, durability, and ruggedness. This technical paper will address design considerations for the above-ground use of HDPE related to thermal expansion, long-term protection against UV radiation, protection of the pipe, and various methods for restraint. In many instances, the design of the temporary bypass system can be more complex than a pipe rehabilitation project. Significant discussion will be provided for realistic temperature assumptions for thermal expansion calculations. Example calculations for thermal expansion will be provided from actual case studies. Typical construction mechanisms used to encourage the direction of HDPE or judicially restrain the HDPE due to thermal expansion are provided. Equations used to calculate stress analysis, center-to-center span length, and deflection during above-ground operation are provided. This paper will help the reader understand the material properties unique to HDPE for above-ground installations.
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Ambler et al. (2025) studied this question.