Pipe and Soil Mechanics for Buried Corrugated HDPE Pipe [PE]

HDPE pipes are being installed as buried conduits at an increasing rate. HDPE pipes are lightweight and resistant to corrosion and abrasion. Because HDPE pipes are flexible, the soil embedment is a major component of the conduit. To assure adequate pipe stiffness, corrugated and profile wall pipes are becoming available. Design is based on pipe-soil interaction using fundamental principles of pipe mechanics and soil mechanics. This paper examines performance, performance limits, and design procedures for typical installations.