Evaluation of the Impact of Typical Imperfections in Hand-Applied CFRP Liners in Pressure Pipelines by Hydrostatic Testing

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) rehabilitation systems have validated efficacy in structural rehabilitation of pipelines since the first installation in the early 1990s. The hand applied layers of carbon and glass FRPs allow for time efficient installations in confined spaces, around obstacles, and without hot work. Installations are not always perfect, but the impact of imperfections on the structural performance is not clear. This paper discusses the criticality of defects and recommended remediation based on hydrostatic watertightness tests on the following defects: gaps between fabric widths, voids between carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) layers, improper saturation, and misalignment of fibers.

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