Mechanical Properties of HDPE Pipe - As per Pipelife

For Design Factor, C=1.6

PE80 PE100
ρ Density, kg/m3 950 960
T Temperature, °C 20 20
E₀ Modulus of elasticity at zero loading time
and low load,Mpa 800 1050
Et Modulus of elasticity after 50yrs, Mpa 150 200
σd₀ Design at time zero, Mpa 8 9.4
σdt Design stress for 50yrs, Mpa 5 8
v Poisson's ratio v=εl/εr 0.4-0.5 0.4-0.5
α Thermal expansion, °C¯¹ 0.0002 0.0002
C Design Factor 1.6 1.6

For Design Factor, C=1.25

PE80 PE100
ρ Density, kg/m3 950 960
T Temperature, °C 20 20
E₀ Modulus of elasticity at zero loading time
and low load,Mpa 800 1050
Et Modulus of elasticity after 50yrs, Mpa 150 200
σd₀ Design stress at time zero, Mpa 10.4 12
σdt Design stress for 50yrs, Mpa 6.4 6.3
v Poisson's ratio v=εl/εr 0.4-0.5 0.4-0.5
α Thermal expansion, °C¯¹ 0.0002 0.0002
C Design Factor 1.25 1.25

Equivalent Roughness, mm

Type of water Type of PE- pipeline

Intake Transit Outlet
Potable water 2 0.25 _
Sewage water _ 0.5 1

Allowable bending ratio

SDR
class Allowable bending ratio R/D , F=1.5
Singular head loss k_factor

Types of pipe and fittings k_factor

Inlet 1 1
Inlet 2 0.5
Outlet 1
Elbow k = 1.1*(θ/90°)^2 1.1 For 90° elbow
k = 0.2*sinθ (rough)
Smooth bend k = 0.1*sinθ (smooth) 0.1
Diffuser 16
Intake screen 0.03
Bead 0.03
Gate valve (open) 0.2
Non return valve 10
HDPE Pipe Design- As per Pipelife

Frictional pressure drop

Q Flow, m3/s 0.1

D Internal diameter, m 0.3272
ν Viscosity of water, m2/s 1.31E-06
T Temperature of water, °C 10
v Velocity of water, m /s v = 4Q/πD^2 1.19
Re Reynolds number Re = vD/ν 297197.9
r Relative roughness r = ε/D 0.0008
f Coefficient of friction find from Moody,s chart 0.02
L Length of pipe, m 2500
ρ Density of water, kg/m3 1000
g Acceleration of gravity, m/s2 9.81
Δhf Frictional pressure drop, mwc Δhf= f*(L/D)*(v^2/2g) 11.0272
Δhf Frictional pressure drop, MPa Δh = ρ*g*Δhf/10^6 0.108

Singular pressure drop

Te Total no. of 90°elbow 3

Tb Total no. of beads 25
To Number of outlet 1
Σk Total sum of coefficients Σk = k*Te+k*Tb+k*To 5.05
v velocity of water,m/s 1.19
g Acceleration of gravity, m/s2 9.81
Δhs Singular pressure drop, mwc Δhs = Σk*(v^2/2g) 0.364
Δhs Singular pressure drop, Mpa Δh = ρ*g*Δhs/10^6 0.0036

Density Head loss

ρs Density of seawater, kg/m3 1025

ρ Density of water, kg/m3 1000
y Depth of pipe in sea, mwc 50
Δhρ Density head loss, mwc Δhρ =( (ρs-ρ)/ρ)*y 1.25
Δhρ Density head loss, Mpa Δhρ = ρ*g*Δhρ/10^6 0.012263
Δh Total pressure drop, mwc Δh = Δhf+Δhs+Δhρ 12.642
HDPE Pipe Design- As per Pipelife

Selection of Diameter

Q Flow, m3/s 0.1

f Coefficient of friction 0.02
L Length of pipe, m 2500
ρ Density of water, kg/m3 1000
g Acceleration of gravity, m/s2 9.81
ρs Density of seawater, kg/m3 1025
Δρ Difference in densities, kg/m3 Δρ = ρs-ρ 25
y Depth of pipe in sea, mwc 50
Δh Pressure drop, mwc 12.64
D Diameter of pipe,m D=[(8fQ^2*L)/{gπ^2(Δh-((Δρ/ρ)*y))}]^1/5 0.325088
Diameter of pipe,mm 325

The nearest standard diameter above for SDR11 is 327.2mm (φ400)

Self Cleaning Velocity

D Internal diameter, m 0.3272

L Length of pipe, m 2500
ρ Density of water, kg/m3 1000
g Acceleration of gravity, m/s2 9.81
Δh Pressure drop, mwc 12.64
I Incline of friction drop of line I = Δh/L 0.005056
τ Shear stress, N/m2 τ = ρg*(D/4)*I 4.057228

To be self cleaning the shear stress shall be ≥ 4 N/m2

Othewise it can be useful to install equipment for flushing and use of cleaning pig.
HDPE Pipe Design- As per Pipelife for PE100

Thickness calculation

P Internal pressure, Mpa

D Diameter of pipe,m 0.2
σ Design stress,Mpa 5
t Thickness in mm t=(P*D/(2σ+P))*1000 0.0

Checking for various Stresses

for PE 100

P Internal pressure, Mpa 1.2

D Diameter of pipe,m 0.2
σ Design stress,Mpa 5
t Thickness in mm 0.02
σr Hoop stress in the pipe wall, Mpa σr = P/2*((D/t)-1) 5.4
σ Allowable stress,Mpa 9.4

As the hoop stress in the wall is within allowable limits.

PipeThicknessof 22mm selected is ok

Shortening of pipe due to stress in Longitudinal direction

for PE100

p Internal pressure, Mpa 1.2

L Length of pipe, m 100
SDR Dia/thk ratio 11
Modulus of elasticity for short time,
Est Mpa 800
Modulus of elasticity for long time,
Elt Mpa 150
ν Poisson's ratio 0.5
ΔL Shortening of pipe, m ΔL = -(ν*L*P/2*Est)(SDR-1) -0.375

As we see shortening can be significant. So, movement of the pipe is

prevented by anchor blocks,soil cover.

σl Maximum longitudinal stress,Mpa σlmax =(ν*P/2)*(SDR-1) 3

ε Strain in longitudinal direction ε = σl/Est 0.00375
σl,long
term Longitudinal stress for long term,Mpa σl,long term = ε*Elt 0.5625

σl,long term = ( 0.5625/3)*100 % =18.75% of the σl for short term.

So. The relaxation is sgnificant.

External Loads/ Buckling

for PE100
D Diameter of pipe,m 0.9
Modulus of elasticity for short time,
E Mpa 1050
SDR Dia/thk ratio 26
ν Poisson's ratio 0.4
k Correction factor due to ovaling 0.65
Pbuc Buckling pressure,Mpa Pbuc = (2E/(1-ν^2))*(k/(SDR-1)^3) 0.104
Buckling pressure,mwc 10.40
F Factor of safety 2

It is not recommended to expose pipeline for an under-pressure greater than

Pbuc/F = 10.40/2 = 5.2 mwc

Buckling of pipe in trench/soil

fprPE100

E Modulus of elasticity for , Mpa 1000

h height of soil cover,m 1
SDR Dia/thk ratio 33
Sr Ring stiffeness,kPa Sr = 1000*E/12(SDR-1)^3 2.54
σ/D Ovaling 0.05
k Correction factor due to ovaling k = 1-(3*σ/D) 0.85
m Modulus Proctor of soil 80%
Es' Secant modulus of soil,kPa 600
Et' Tangential modulus of soil,kPa Et' = 2*Es' 1200
F Factor of safety 1
q Allowable buckling pressure,kPa q=(5.63/F)*sqrt(Sr*Et')*k 264.364
Allowable buckling pressure,mwc 26.44
γ Specific gravity of soil, kN/m3 20
γw Specific gravity ofwater, kN/m3 10
qs Soil pressure,mwc qs = (γ-γw)*h/10 1
qu Pipe under constant pressure, mwc 2
qt Total external pressure,mwc qt = qu+qs 3

As total external pressure is less than allowable buckling pressure.

Selected SDR class of pipe is OK.

Bending stresses
for PE100

D Diameter of pipe,m 1.2

r Radius of curvature,m 36
E Modulus of elasticity,Mpa 700
σa Maximum bending stress,Mpa σa =E*(D/2R) 11.67
σ Allowable Design stress,Mpa 12

As max.bending stress is less than allowable bending stress.

Selected SDR class of pipe is OK.
 Design of loading by Concrete Weight

Do Outside diameter, mm 500

SDR Diameter thickness ratio 22
d Centre distance of concrete weights, m 5
wc Wt.of concrete weight in air, kN 5.6
wp Wt.of pipe in air, kN/m 0.35
ρp Density of PE pipe, kg/m3 950
ρw Density of sea water, kg/m3 1025
ρc Density of concrete, kg/m3 2400
Wcw Wt.of concrete weight in water, kN/m Wcw = wc*[(ρc-ρw)/ρc]/d 0.642
Wpw Wt.of pipe in water, kN/m Wpw = wp*[(ρp-ρw)/ρp] -0.028
Di Inside diameter, mm Di = Do-2*(Do/SDR) 454.5

a = {(Wcw+Wpw)/
a Degree of air filling, % 37.7
[π*(Di^2/4)*γw)]}*100

ad = Wcw/[π*(Do^2/4)*γw]*
ad Degree of displacement, % 8.13
100

For all practical situation will be a > ad

If condition is not satisfying then increase the concrete weight.

Stability of PE-pipeline on the seabed

Do Outside diameter, mm 500

SDR Diameter thickness ratio 22
Di Inside diameter, mm Di = Do-2*(Do/SDR) 454.5
Fd Drag force, kN 0.4
Fl Lift force, kN 0.2
n Degree of air accumulation 0.15
d Centre distance of concrete weights, m 3
wc Wt.of concrete weight in air, kN 5.6
wp Wt. of pipeline , kN/m 0.345
wa Wt. of air inside pipeline, kN/m 0
γc Specific gravity of concrete, kN/m3 23.5
γw Specific gravity of seawater, kN/m3 10.05
γs Specific gravity of sewage water, kN/m3 10
Wcw Wt.of concrete weight in water, kN/m Wcw = wc*[(γc-γw)/γc]/d 1.07
Ww Wt.of water inside the pipe per m, kN/m Ww = (1-n)*(π*Di^2/4)*γs 1.39
Fb Buoyancy of pipe per m, kN/m Fb =(( π*D^2)/4)*γw 1.97
Fn Balance force in vertical direction, kN Fn = Wcw+Ww+wp+wa-Fb-Fl 0.63
μmin. Minimum friction coefficient μmin.= Fd/Fn 0.64

To avoid sliding friction coeff. Must be greater than 0.65.From table 1 we see that only
starred weight can avoid the sliding. To get it stable by rectangular or circular weights ,
we have to increase the weight of concrete weight.
Table 1
Type Friction coeff.
Rectangular 0.5
Circular 0.2
Starred 0.8
 Current Forces

D Outside diameter, mm 500

α Angle of current attacking the pipeline 45
v current velocity, m/s 1
ρ Density of water, kg/m3 1000
Cl Lift coefficient 0.2
Cd Drag coefficient 1
Vn Velocity component perpendicular to pipe Vn = v*sinα 0.70683
Fd Drag force, N Fd = 0.5*Cd*ρ*Vn²*D 124.9
Fl Lift force , N Fl = 0.5*Cl*ρ*Vn²*D 24.9801

Wave Forces