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INSTRUCTORS:
Piyush Garg
Mark Poppe, P.E.
Uday Sant, P.E.
Mehdi S. Zarghamee
Purpose and Background
These presentations were recorded at the UESI Pipelines 2025 Conference.
CFRP Repair of Complex Structures in Wastewater Applications (26 minutes)
This presentation explores the application of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) in repairing non-circular and complex geometries within wastewater infrastructure. The project, located in Wheeling, Illinois, involved structures beneath critical facilities such as the Chicago Executive Airport, where traditional methods like CIPP or geopolymer lining were not feasible. Presenters will highlight the design considerations and challenges in addressing unique geometries, such as curved, flat, and offset manholes, using a combination of standards including AWWA C305, ACI 318, and ACI 440.2R. Construction challenges such as substrate preparation, water intrusion, and safe access for installation will be discussed. Attendees will also gain insight into quality control methods, anchoring systems, and lessons learned from implementing CFRP in highly degraded environments. The case study demonstrates how CFRP’s flexibility and adaptability provide a durable solution for critical wastewater structures.
Emergency CFRP Repair of the City of Sacramento 120-Inch RCP Pioneer Outfall: Railroads, Levees, and Vacuum Conditions (19 minutes)
This session focuses on an emergency rehabilitation project for Sacramento’s 120-inch reinforced concrete outfall pipe, which faced structural distress under complex constraints. The pipeline, running beneath levees and active railroads, experienced severe vacuum pressures, joint failures, and long-standing repair challenges. Due to time-sensitive conditions before the wet weather season, CFRP was chosen as the most effective solution compared to alternatives such as joint sealing, sliplining, or CIPP. Presenters will outline the decision-making process, design requirements for extreme load conditions, and innovative construction solutions, including scaffolding, paraffin wax bond-breakers at joints, and watertight protective layers. Quality control testing and rapid installation methods that enabled project completion in under two months will be emphasized. This project highlights how CFRP can provide structural reliability, minimize excavation, and extend service life under highly constrained timelines.
CFRP Repair of Distressed PCCP and Other Pipes (29 minutes)
This presentation addresses the broader philosophy, design considerations, and long-term implications of using CFRP to rehabilitate distressed prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) and other pipe types. Drawing from decades of research and practical experience, the discussion evaluates CFRP as both a temporary and permanent solution, with emphasis on load resistance, longitudinal demand, and host pipe degradation over time. Topics include the AWWA C305 standard, finite element modeling, liner-host pipe interactions, and challenges such as non-uniform support, cracking, thrust forces, and termination details. The presentation also covers CFRP’s adaptability for pipes with perforations, joints, and fittings, illustrating cases where corrosion or seismic strains impact design life. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of CFRP’s role in long-term asset management, including its durability, resistance to environmental factors, and need for advanced modeling in complex rehabilitation scenarios.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Describe the design and construction challenges of applying CFRP to non-circular wastewater structures.
- Explain how CFRP anchors, surface preparation, and load considerations ensure the long-term performance of complex structure repairs.
- Discuss how CFRP can be designed to withstand vacuum pressures, railroad loading, and seismic conditions in large-diameter pipelines.
- Identify the advantages of CFRP over alternative rehabilitation methods in emergency repair scenarios with limited time and access.
- Describe how host pipe degradation, joint movement, and termination details affect the structural performance of CFRP liners
- Explain the design considerations and long-term challenges associated with CFRP repair of PCCP and other deteriorated pipes.
Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-test assessment (true-false, multiple choice, and/or fill in the blank questions).
Who Should Attend?
- Utility and Pipeline Engineers
- Design and Consulting Engineers
- Construction Contractors
- Project Managers
- Academic and Professional Researchers
- Early Career and Pipeline Professionals
How to Earn Your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion
To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 1 year of purchasing the course.
How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?
1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]