Evaluation of Corrugated HDPE Pipes Manufactured with Recycled Content

The objective of the proposed research is to compare the performance of corrugated HDPE pipes manufactured with recycled content to those manufactured with only virgin materials. MnDOT currently requires HDPE pipes to be made with 100% virgin materials. However, recent changes to AASHTO M 294 include the option for pipes manufactured with post-consumer and post-industrial recycled content, both of which have been shown to be more sustainable materials than virgin HDPE (1, 2). The proposed research will consist of identifying a site to install at least two corrugated HDPE test culverts, one manufactured with only virgin materials and the other with recycled content (recycled content should be at least 40% by weight). The test culverts will be a minimum of 30 inches in diameter. They will be instrumented with strain gauges and extensometers to monitor strains and deflections throughout the course of the study. Research will be conducted by UMD faculty and students. The pipe will be supplied by pipe manufacturers, and MnDOT will arrange the pipe installation. The research will result in performance data that will provide MnDOT with the opportunity to consider specifying corrugated HDPE pipes manufactured with recycled content.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $85,032.00
• Contract Numbers:

  1036342 WO#24

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Minnesota Department of Transportation

  395 John Ireland Boulevard
  St Paul, MN  United States  55155
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Minnesota, Duluth

  Swenson College of Civil Engineering
  1405 University Drive
  Duluth, MN  United States  55812
• Principal Investigators:

  Pluimer, Michael

• Start Date: 20210827
• Expected Completion Date: 20240131
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Corrugated pipe culverts; Performance tests; Plastic pipe; Recycled materials; Standards
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01762512
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 1036342 WO#24
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 22 2021 11:26AM