Central Arizona Project

Highlights of SGH’s work include the following:

• Computed the earth load and the load distribution on the pipe using a finite element soil-structure interaction program
• Computed the combined effects on structural safety of internal pressure, dead loads, prestress, and prestress loss as wires break in an area
• Determined the failure risk for the pipe and prioritized repairs for the distressed pipe based on its failure margin and its proximity to cracking, structural damage, and rupture
• Developed a post-tensioning repair design for pipe under 15 ft of soil cover and up to 75 ft of water head
• Computed the maximum safe excavation length under the pipe with broken wires assuming that the pipeline is either empty or full of water