Seismic Performance

GF ecoFIT PE-100 survives where metals cannot. PE-100 pipes are often used for gas and water distribution pipelines, these pipe networks are often underground and hence must be designed to bear the load of many external and internal stresses. These can be caused by ground movement, including earthquakes, as well as internal working pressure and general temperature fluctuations.

The reason why PE-100 is so resilient to seismic loads is its low modulus of elasticity. Thanks to its low modulus of elasticity the PE100 material is far superior in compensating the extranal loads caused by earthquakes compared to traditional metal pipes and other rigid piping systems. A
low E-Modulus allows the material to compensate itself under cycling loads, hydraulic shocks and external stresses. 

Modulus of Elasticity measures the materials ability to withstand deformation (stress ÷ strain)
GF ecoFIT PE100 = 0.8 GPa
Carbon Steel         = 150-200 GPa
 
Data Centers are ofen constructed in geographical regions suspect potenitally to earthquakes. Hence they need to undergo a seismic load simulation during the design phase. The types and range of stresses caused by the simulated earthquake depends on its geographical location. This can be simulated in the ROHR2 software stress analysis package available from GF Piping Systems.

GF Engineering Services : ROHR2 Seismic Report

A stress anaylsis of a PE-100 pipe undergoing a seismic load can be simulated in the ROHR2 software. ROHR2 is a CAE system for the "Static and Dynamic Analysis of Complex Piping and Steel Structures". Stress analyses of pipe components can be done in accordance with a variety of specifications like ASME, EN, ISO14692, KTA, CODETI or RCCM. ROHR2 creates the load case superposition and the equations automatically according to the selected stress specification. ROHR2 compares existing and allowable stresses.

The ROHR2 stress analysis software now contains GF plastic piping engineering data for GFs complete range of plastic pipe systems, namely PE-100, PVDF, PP-H, PVC-U and more. A complete engineering report is avaialble on demand from GF Piping Systems.