Trenchless repairing of underground pipes using RTM based on the axiomatic design method

Abstract

To overcome the problems of excavation technology for repairing damaged underground pipes, such as sewer pipes, various trenchless (excavation free or no-dig) technologies has been proposed and tried, but they have some drawbacks such as high cost and inconvenience of operation. In this study, the rehabilitation process of underground pipes with glass fiber fabric polymer composites using Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), which overcomes the problems of present trenchless technologies has been developed through the axiomatic design approach. For the reliable and faultless operation, all the problems and situations that may occur during the real construction has been taken into account at every stage of the design process. The developed process requires shorter operation time and lower cost with smaller and simpler operating equipments than conventional trenchless technologies. From the investigation, it has been found that the developed repair technology with appropriate process parameters determined by design axioms has many advantages over conventional methods.