The durability of cellulose fibre reinforced concrete pipes in sewage applications

Concrete pipes are integral components of the community's infrastructure, b eing employed in a wide range of applications from storm-water drainage to external casing for composite piles. Their use as sewage pipes requires con sideration of both the strength characteristics and the long-term durabilit y of the pipes in aggressive environments. Cellulose fibre reinforced concr ete (FRC) pipes are relatively new to the market and if they are to find a place in the sewage pipe market, then their long-term durability in a sewag e environment must be investigated. This paper presents the preliminary fin dings of a research program aimed at determining the long-term durability o f FRC pipes in sewage applications. Pipe samples of both FRC and steel rein forced concrete (SRC) were exposed to sewage environments and the character istics of the samples continually monitored. Tt was found that the strength characteristics of the samples were only slightly affected by tbe environm ent but that the surface characteristics of the materials changed significa ntly. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.