Study of Rehabilitation of Broken Wires in Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) and Its Effect on the Structural Continuity of the Pipe

Since 1942, over 100 million ft of Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) have been manufactured. This study investigates the impact of PCCP rehabilitation, specifically prestressed wire replacement, on extending pipe service life. Utilizing data from over 70,000 electromagnetic inspections conducted since 1971, this research evaluates the effectiveness of post-tensioned wire rehabilitation, particularly in barrel locations, on pipe structural continuity. By comparing pre- and post-rehabilitation data from identical pipe segments, the study demonstrates that replacing broken prestressed wires with post-tensioned wires effectively reduces the rate of new wire breaks and extends the pipe's operational lifespan.