Computational Modeling of Cured-in-Place Structural Liner for Aged Pipeline Rehabilitation

Pipeline infrastructure is crucial to help economic growth across the country. Pipelines are used to gather, transport, and distribute water, oil, or gas to end-use consumers. More than half of the pipelines in the US have been in service for more than 60 years. Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) structural liner is a trenchless rehabilitation method to repair aged underground pipelines. Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) is a popular liner material used to rehabilitate and improve the service of pipelines. To investigate the effect of CFRP liner on pipeline maintenance and rehabilitation, we simulate the mechanical properties of CFRP liner for damaged pipeline rehabilitation through three-dimensional finite element analysis. A parametric study is conducted to demonstrate the effect of liner thickness and in-pipe pressure on the performance of the CFRP liner rehabilitation. The computational modeling results exhibit the relationship between liner thickness and rehabilitation effect, and the stress concentration location at the damaged area. The results of the paper can be applied for the optimal design of CIPP liner and enhanced sustainability and resilience of the US pipeline systems.