Pipe Bursting – Short Pipe Replacement

Pipe Bursting is a method where a notch is scored on the pipe surface, followed by the application of pressure or external force to cause the pipe to fracture at the notch. Due to its simplicity and broad applicability, it is widely used in the decommissioning and reconstruction of pipelines in the gas, petroleum, and chemical industries.

The pipe bursting method is based on the principle of material brittleness. After scoring a notch on the pipe surface, the application of pressure or external force causes cracks at the blade edge to propagate, ultimately resulting in the pipe fracturing at that point. The specific crack propagation process involves various principles of physics and materials science, which will not be detailed here.

Types of Brittle Pipes Compatible with Pipe Bursting

As pipe bursting is a relatively straightforward fracturing method, it is primarily applied to specific materials with high brittleness. The following are the types of brittle pipe materials that can be fractured via pipe bursting:

1. Plastic Pipes

Plastic pipes are commonly used in gas and tap water systems. Compared to metal pipes, their obvious advantages such as low cost, strong corrosion resistance, and light weight have led to their widespread use. The high brittleness of certain plastic pipes makes pipe bursting a common method for their decommissioning and reconstruction.

2. Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP/GRP) Pipes

FRP pipes are non-metallic pipes offering benefits such as light weight, high strength, and corrosion resistance. They are widely used in the petroleum, chemical, and environmental protection fields. Compared to metal pipes, FRP pipes also exhibit higher brittleness, so pipe bursting is frequently used for their removal and replacement.

3. Other Brittle Piping Materials

In addition to plastic and FRP pipes, other non-metallic piping materials, such as ceramic pipes and certain industrial rubber pipes, also possess high brittleness and can be fractured using the pipe bursting method.

Schematic Diagram of Pipe Construction

 by Pipe Splitting (Bursting) Method