SBIR Phase I: Honeycomb_FRP Composite Sandwich (HCS) Pipe

这项小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目提出了一种正在申请专利的现场管道制造新方法，与业内其他预制管道相比，该方法可以减少时间、间接成本、材料成本、泄漏和腐蚀。本研究的第一阶段将重点发展夹芯复合材料管道组装技术并使其机械化，然后评估蜂窝纤维增强聚合物（FRP）复合材料夹芯（HCS）管道在各种载荷和环境条件下的短期性能。将考虑的性能限制包括屈曲、挠曲和内压等关键失效模式。测试将包括埋地管道的砂床、内部和外部压力测试，这些测试将揭示由复合材料制成的管道的刚度与平板中复合材料的刚度的比较。收集的数据将提供有关管道性能的有用设计信息，并证明制造和安装此类产品的可行性。考虑到管道的多功能性和低成本，以及它们提供的耐腐蚀性，该项目的广泛影响/商业潜力是巨大的。对于偏远地区和发展中国家来说，现场生产管道的能力具有深远的意义，因为这些地区几乎没有天然气发现和供水系统的基础设施。随着该产品的可行性得到验证，有相当多的变化可以测试，例如垂直使用管道，并在各种建筑行业中填充混凝土用于桩和柱。其他可能的用途包括石油和天然气行业的水下管道和输电线，甚至是全球采矿和水力压裂作业的低成本、移动、临时管道。随着移动制造装置的发展和工艺效率的提高，由此产生的成本节约，不仅在管道本身方面，而且在设备和运输成本方面，都将是可观的。除了减少泄漏和维护这些管道所带来的长期节省外，这将导致行业向更环保、更高效的技术转变。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project presents a patent-pending new approach for on-site pipe manufacturing that can reduce time, overhead costs, materials costs, leakage, and corrosion when compared with other pre-manufactured pipes in the industry. Phase I of this research activity will focus on developing and mechanizing the technique for assembling the pipe using sandwich composite construction, and then evaluating the short-term behavior of the honeycomb-fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite sandwich (HCS) pipe under various loading and environmental conditions. Performance limits that will be considered include key failure modes of buckling, deflection and internal pressure. Testing will include a sand bed for buried pipes, internal and external pressure tests which will reveal how the stiffness of the pipe, which is fabricated from composite materials, compares to the stiffness of the composite materials in a flat panel. The data collected will provide useful design information regarding the behavior of the pipe, as well as demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing and installing such a product.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is enormous, considering the versatility and low cost of the pipes, in addition to the corrosion resistance that they provide. The ability to produce pipelines on-site has far-reaching implications for remote locations and developing nations which have little to no infrastructure for natural gas discovery and water delivery systems. As the viability of this product is proven, there are quite a few variations that can be tested, such as using the pipe vertically and filling it with concrete for piles and columns in various construction industries. Other possible uses include underwater pipelines and transmission lines for the oil and gas industries, or even as low cost, mobile, temporary pipelines for mining and fracking operations around the globe. As the mobile manufacturing units are developed and the process becomes more efficient, the resulting cost savings, not only in terms of the pipe itself but also on equipment and freight costs, will be substantial. This, in addition to the long-term savings from reduced leakage and maintenance of these pipelines, will lead to an industry shift towards this greener, more efficient technology.