Experimental and Computational Investigations of Cured-in-Place Structural Liners for Pipeline Rehabilitation: A Multi-Level Review

In the United States, there have been approximately 8,000 pipeline accidents since 1986, resulting in over 500 deaths, 2300 injuries, and $7 billion in property loss, with 35% of failures caused by deterioration in aging infrastructure. However, an aging system does not necessarily mean it is faulty and, if well maintained, does not need to be replaced. To address the need for targeted maintenance, cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) has emerged as a trenchless technology for structural rehabilitation. To facilitate a thorough understanding of the performance of CIPP liners for pipeline rehabilitation, this paper provides a comprehensive review of experimental and computational investigations into CIPP liners across both global system responses and constituent material levels. At the system level, CIPP liner serves as a reinforcement, capable of reducing stress and displacement in corroded host pipes by up to 45% and 70%, respectively. Computational studies further demonstrate that well-bonded liners significantly improve rehabilitation performance. Any wrinkles or annular gaps can easily induce buckling or cracking. At the material level, the review evaluates woven fiber fabric composites and advanced polymeric adhesive layers. Experimental studies provide essential characterization data, and computational approaches enable detailed representation of textile architectures. Additionally, representative volume element (RVE) modeling is reviewed for its performance in predicting composite properties based on microstructural variables. This systematic review establishes a paradigm for understanding CIPP compositions and properties, supporting not only the rehabilitation of deteriorated underground pipelines but also the extension of the service life of global underground infrastructure.