Potential Techniques for the Assessment of Joints in Water Distribution Pipelines

The project sought to identify and document the key problems associated with the failure of joints in water distribution pipelines and to investigate and report on the potential of existing and emerging techniques for the location, condition assessment, and repair of these joints. The research approach acknowledged that location, condition assessment, and rehabilitation of pipe joints were likely to be achieved using a variety of different techniques and consisting of the following stages:?

• Determine the types of joints that are most common and their major potential modes of failure?
• Perform a utility survey to determine methods currently being used for joint location, condition assessment, and repair?
• Undertake a literature and manufacturer search of current and emerging technologies used for location, condition assessment, repair, and rehabilitation of pipe joints?
• Investigate and report on the performance of selected technologies?
• Perform utility sponsored field testing of selected techniques under a variety of realistic site conditions
• Develop decision support tools and methodologies based upon the technical attributes of the particular systems