Seismic Testing of Critical Lifelines Rehabilitated with Cured in Place Pipeline Lining Technology

Trenchless technology is well accepted for repairing critical underground lifelines with minimal ground surface disruption. The cured in place pipeline (CIPP) lining process is an application of trenchless technology that involves the installation of fiber reinforced composites inside existing pipelines. The uncertain performance of pipelines reinforced with CIPP linings in seismic areas is a barrier to the adoption of this method for seismic retrofit. This article evaluates experimentally the transient seismic response of pressurized pipelines reinforced with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) linings. The test results show that reinforced pipelines can accommodate very high intensity ground motions and can provide substantial seismic strengthening in addition to efficient rehabilitation of aging underground infrastructure.