Steel Pipe Design

Large diameter steel water pipelines, when part of a utility’s system, are critical to that utility’s success in meeting the needs of its customers. Typically, these pipelines must be operational 24/7 to maintain service to large segments of the supply and distribution systems. Additionally, large diameter lines make up one of the largest components of capital, operational, and maintenance costs of the utility. Therefore, getting the highest value for design and construction of large diameter pipelines is critical to the overall success of the water utility. Highest value means reliability and resiliency, lowest life cycle cost, low operation and maintenance cost, and quality of the constructed project.

This paper describes ways to get the highest value in design and construction of large diameter steel pipelines, including the following:

  • Hydraulic Design, Operating Pressure, System Layout
  • Structural Design (Alternate materials for bedding and backfill – Aggregates and CLSM)
  • Joints and Weld After Backfill
  • Fittings
  • Coatings and Linings
  • Carrier Pipe for Tunnel Crossings
  • Best Practices
  • Bidding Strategies
  • Pipe Manufacturing Quality Control
  • Bedding and Backfill Quality Control
  • Field Welding Quality Control
  • Hydrostatic Testing
  • Record Drawings

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