Comparative study on shotcrete repair solutions of buried steel pipelines

The research aims to optimize the rehabilitation works of steel buried pipes after their lifespan is reached. It is based on objective real situations met in the Romanian agricultural irrigation system. The study proposes an analytical approach to predict the behavior of the rehabilitated pipelines initially subjected to various corrosion rates, from low to high agressivity of the environment. Besides traditional lining with reinforced concrete, a new trend given by the relative modern structural repair mortars is considered. The time behavior of the shotcrete lining is estimated based on information given by the appropriate European norm. The results question the design philosophy, still not clarified in the field, and emphasize the superior performance of modern cementitious materials, both in terms of technical performance and economical efficiency. Future research perspectives are also underlined with regard to the new materials meeting sprayed concrete technology requirements, and design philosophy.