Bend Pipes (1996 N3.2)
Bend Pipes (1996 N3.2)
Bend Pipes (1996 N3.2)
2)
Introduction
Bend-pipes are components of pre-insulated
bonded pipes made from straight pipes by
bending. Bend-pipes have clearly larger radii
in comparison with bends:
Bend-pipe radius > 50 x Dsteel pipe
Bend radius
= 1.5 to 2.5 x Dsteel pipe.
The use of bend-pipes is particularly advisable
when the best possible lay out requires a large
radius. If for example the bend of a street is to
be followed, bend-pipes offer a lay out
possibility which means the lowest expenditure
with regard to installation lengths, construction
site and compensation expenditure with the
corresponding radius.
At the realisation of changes of direction with
pre-insulated bonded pipes normally 3 kinks
are applied for small angles. Larger changes of
direction (e.g. 30) can be realised without
statical test by applying several 3 kinks with a
minimum distance of 6 m. However, only
relatively large lay out radii (R - 114.6 m) can
be created this way (see picture 1-1).
6.0
m
6 .0
m
6.0
.0 m
m6
6 .0 m
6. 0 m
0m 6.0 m 6. 0m
6 .0 m 6.
30
114.6 m
Summary
Bend-pipes are virtually ideal installation
elements since they are mechanically more
trustworthy than straight pipes and offer high
freedom of installation by allowing many
curve angles.
There is not any norm internationally for bendpipes in which the smallest permitted bendpipe radius is stated. Therefore many different
smallest admittable bend-pipe radii are stated
by different manufacturers. These smallest
radii are partially manufacturer conditioned,
partially due to different installation processes
of bend-pipes. Due to planning clearly smaller
bend-pipe radii often are possible than those
offered by the manufacturers. In the planners
vision this is very un-satisfying.
Therefore all leading European manufacturers
of pre-installated bonded pipes were addressed
for the questionnaire in the context of this
essay on lay out, production and cost of bendpipes. Five manufacturers from Denmark,
Austria, Sweden and Germany have answered
this questionnaire.
Answers concerning laying out of bend-pipes
confirmed preliminary expectations for large
differences with regard to criteria for lay out
and the bend-pipe radii resulting. The example
enclosed in the questionnaire of a bend-pipe
DN 300 with a radius of 20 m shows these
differences clearly. The smallest bending
radius for such an installation the
manufacturers needed up to 50 m. The
indicated criteria for the installation differ
greatly, now the highest allowable earth
pressure was mentioned, than the highest
allowable compression in the PUR foam.
A unity of criteria for installation seems to be
needed urgently to remove the predominant
uncertenties.