Graduation Semester and Year

Spring 2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering

Department

Civil Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Mohammad Najafi

Abstract

POLYMERIC SPRAY-APPLIED PIPE LINING SELECTION, EVALUATION

AND SYSTEM DESIGN

Sanaz Ghalambor, PhD

The University of Texas at Arlington, 2024

Supervising Professor: Dr. Mohammad Najafi

Numerous pipes are considerably aged, and most are no longer functional. Immediate attention is required to either restore or replace these pipelines. To avoid digging up and replacing underground pipes, the Spray-Applied Pipe Lining (SAPL) rehabilitation technology, also known as Spray-In-Place-Pipe (SIPP) lining, can be used for pipe rehabilitation. This approach lowers expenses and downtime while preserving landscapes and structures and enhancing hydraulic characteristics. Although lining water pipes through spray application is the oldest pipeline rehabilitation technique, it has been commonly referred to as "non-structural" and "semi-structural" since its inception. SAPL/SIPP's primary objectives include preventing interior corrosion, restoring hydraulic capacity, and remedying water quality degradation. Over the last decade, the industry has made significant strides in developing and using faster-curing polyurethane and polyurea linings. These linings are easier to apply at greater thicknesses and possess impressive tensile and flexural characteristics. Using spray-applied pipe linings improves structural integrity by providing ring stiffness, spanning corrosion holes and other weak spots in the pipe, and preventing internal pressure burst failure. The latest Polymeric SIPP generation furthers this progress by combining ultra-fast elastomeric chemistries with Robotics application equipment. This cutting-edge solution is ideal for renovating and constructing liquid containment and distribution systems, especially regarding pipe structural restoration. An appropriate SAPL/SIPP system is paramount for successful pipe rehabilitation projects. Choosing the right product with suitable properties and installation methods is imperative. Previous SAPL/SIPP failures have resulted from incorrect system selection including rehabilitation classes, chemistry, physical and structural properties, and improper surface preparation and installation. A well-structured system selection and design plan is essential to overcome these challenges.

The objectives of this study are:

1. To design a test plan and evaluate polymeric SAPL/SIPP as a proactive solution (corrosion prevention) and a reactive solution ( pipe renewal using structural liners) to enhance the design life of pipelines and to determine qualification requirements for the liner system used in buried piping as a non, partial, or full structural solution.

2. To validate the laboratory test results with Finite Element Modeling (FEM)

3. To design industry-approved buried pipe liner solutions for different stages of the pipe's

4. To investigate the proper methods for SAPL/SIPP thickness design.

Keywords

Spray-applied pipe lining, Polymeric spray applied lining, Sprayed-in-place-pipe, Polymeric spray-on lining, SAPL, SIPP

Disciplines

Civil Engineering | Construction Engineering and Management

License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Available for download on Thursday, May 28, 2026

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