An experimental investigation into the pressure - leakage relationship of some failed water pipes

Research Article| March 01 2007 An experimental investigation into the pressure - leakage relationship of some failed water pipes B. Greyvenstein; B. Greyvenstein 1Department of Civil Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524 Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar J. E. van Zyl J. E. van Zyl 1Department of Civil Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524 Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa Tel.: +2711-489-2345 Fax: +2711-489-2343; E-mail: kobusvz@uj.ac.za Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2007) 56 (2): 117–124. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2007.065 Article history Received: October 14 2005 Accepted: November 13 2006 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Cite Icon Cite Permissions Search Site Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsThis Journal Search Advanced Search Citation B. Greyvenstein, J. E. van Zyl; An experimental investigation into the pressure - leakage relationship of some failed water pipes. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 March 2007; 56 (2): 117–124. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2007.065 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex This paper reports on an experimental study that was conducted to measure the leakage exponents of different types of leak openings (holes, corrosion holes, and longitudinal and circumferential cracks) and pipe materials (asbestos cement, mild steel and uPVC). A number of failed pipes taken from the Johannesburg water distribution system were tested, as well as a number of pipes with artificially induced leaks. The results of the study confirmed that leakage exponents can be significantly higher than the theoretical value of 0.5. While leakage exponents for round holes were close to 0.5, the values for corrosion holes varied between 0.67 and 2.30, for longitudinal cracks between 0.79 and 1.85, and for circumferential cracks between 0.41 and 0.52. Conclusions include that the highest leakage exponents were found in corroded steel pipes and that under certain circumstances, leakage exponents can be less than 0.5. distribution, failures, leakage, pipe, pressure, water This content is only available as a PDF. © IWA Publishing 2007 You do not currently have access to this content.