Failure Analysis, Condition Assessment Technologies, and Performance Prediction of Prestressed-Concrete Cylinder Pipe: State-of-the-Art Literature Review

Prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) is a large-diameter and high-strength pipe used in water or wastewater transmission mains. It has been widely used in North America because of its good performance, large capacity, and cost-effective price. However, some PCCPs fail after a certain time of service because of deterioration. PCCP failures can be very significant considering the pipe size and high internal pressure. To mitigate the serious results of PCCP failures, many condition assessment technologies have been developed to inspect the pipe condition, and many models have been developed to predict the performance of the pipe. These technologies and performance prediction methods have been used as reference for decision-making in PCCP pipeline management. However, because of their limitations, there is still a strong need to improve them for better application in the future. This paper, by using three databases, presents a state-of-the-art literature review of the most commonly used condition assessment technologies and performance prediction methods for PCCP. The objective of this research is to analyze the capabilities and limitations of current condition assessment technologies and performance prediction methods and to propose direction for future research on PCCP by considering its failure factors, modes, and mechanisms.