Development of fibre-reinforced concrete pipes

加拿大混凝土管行业有一个多世纪的历史，包括21家生产公司，以及另外12家供应和设备公司。然而，在过去的几十年里，由于来自其他管道产品的竞争，这个对加拿大经济至关重要的行业的市场份额一直在萎缩。要提高该行业的盈利能力和竞争力，需要技术突破和结构变革。降低生产成本是这一战略的核心。在这个研究项目中，我们承担的任务是用分散的增强纤维取代用于增强混凝土管的劳动密集型和耗时的钢笼，这种纤维可以添加到混凝土混合物中，而不会对现有的生产过程进行重大改变。该项目是由安大略省圭尔夫的Con Cast Pipe和西安大略大学的结构实验室和岩土工程研究中心合作进行的。纤维增强混凝土（FRC）混合料具有定制的管道制造工程性能将得到优化。按比例缩小的FRC模型管道将在实验室进行测试，然后在预制厂进行全尺寸FRC管道的测试。将研究几个实验参数，以达到平衡，使生产的FRC管道符合设计规范要求，同时具有成本竞争力和卓越的成品质量。对覆盖层荷载下的FRC埋地管道进行数值模拟和全尺寸测试，将有助于制定适当的设计指南，为设计界和该行业的其他利益相关者接受此类管道铺平道路。预计该项目将培养出能够引领这项技术的高素质人才，并将极大地帮助Con Cast Pipe降低生产成本，并通过增加市场份额获得额外收入。

The more than a century old Canadian concrete pipe industry involves 21 producing companies, along with another 12 companies of supply and equipment. However, this important sector for the Canadian economy has been experiencing a shrinking market share over the last few decades due to emerging competition from other pipe products. Technological breakthroughs and structural changes are needed for enhancing the profitability and competitiveness of this industry. Reducing production costs is central to such a strategy. In this research project, we undertake the task of replacing the labour-intensive and time-consuming steel cages used for reinforcing concrete pipes with discrete reinforcing fibres that can be added in the concrete mixture without major changes in existing production processes. The project is conducted in collaboration between Con Cast Pipe, Guelph, Ontario and the Structures Laboratory and Geotechnical Research Centre at The University of Western Ontario. Fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) mixtures with tailor made engineering properties for pipe manufacturing will be optimized. Scaled down FRC model pipes will be tested in the laboratory, followed by testing of full-scale FRC pipes manufactured at the precast plant. Several experimental parameters will be investigated to strike a balance that leads to producing FRC pipes meeting design code requirements, yet cost-competitive with superior finish quality. Numerical modeling and full-scale testing of FRC buried pipes under overburden loading will allow formulating adequate design guidelines, paving the way for the acceptance of such pipes within the design community and other stakeholders of this industry. It is anticipated that this project will lead to the training of highly qualified personnel that can lead the technology, and will substantially help Con Cast Pipe both reducing production costs and generating additional revenues through gaining market share.