A modified pipe bursting technology development for profiled wall plastic sewer pipe rehabilitation

Sanitary and storm drainage pipes made of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) have been increasingly adopted in South Korea. However, some properties of the plastic pipe materials such as high elasticity (flexibility) and low loading capacity easily deflect geometry of the plastic pipes. As compared to solid wall plastic pipes, profiled wall structure increase loading capacity and rigidity so that the plastic pipe can be made more cost effective at the equivalent loading condition. Profiled wall structures vary by the wall structure such as single corrugated, double wall, and triple wall profile structure. In recent years, the profiled wall pipe inspection revealed that many profiled wall plastic pipes experienced structural failure especially in the crown due to unprecedented loading conditions such as vertical loading, ground water, and ground settlement. Premature failure of the profiled wall sewer system results in substantial burden to sewer agencies in South Korea. This paper proposes a conceptual development of a trenchless technology that modifies a conventional pipe bursting technology to recover geometry of deformed profiled wall plastic pipes and install new pipes. The proposed new technology concept is designed to minimize the impact on environmental and social disruption during the process, and is expected to be an economical alternative method compared to traditional open cut replacement methods.