Pipes of glassfiber reinforced plastics and prestressed concrete for hot-water transportation

The report constitutes stage 2-3 of a project for the evaluation of pipes made from glass reinforced plastics and prestressed concrete. This stage was made possible through funds from the Swedish National Board for Energy Source Development and the participation of three industrial firms. Experimental pipes of large dimensions (O.D. 0.5 m) were tested at elevated temperatures and pressures. The glass reinforced plastic tubes showed in general an acceptable short term strength at 100-110 degree C. Further long term testing is needed in order to predict the life time; their manufacture requires a strictrly controlled process. The pipes made from prestressed concrete were tested at 95 and 110 degree C for more than a year with good results, and their resistence to thermal shocks was shown to be acceptable. Long term stress relaxation of the EPDM rubber for the joints was measured at 125 and 110 degree C. The best rubbers can be used for 3 years at 110 degree C and a compression of 35 percent, a longer life time is most probable but cannot be foreseen until results from continued testing have been collected. It was demonstrated that the relaxation rate is lowered in water with low oxygen contents. (author)