Anderson, Loren Runar et al "RING DEFLECTION"

Structural Mechanics of Buried Pipes

Boca Raton: CRC Press LLC,2000

Figure 7-1 Deflected ring showing notation for dimensions and for ring deflection analysis.

Figure 7-2 Segmented ring deflection showing the relationship between ring deflection, d, width, w, of the
crack, and wall thickness, t.

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CHAPTER 7 RING DEFLECTION

Ring deflection is defined as the ratio of change in
vertical diameter to the original diameter, d = /D.
See Figure 7-1. Diameter D is the diameter to the
neutral surfaces of the cross section of the wall. For
mos t pipe analyses, it is sufficiently accurate to use
the mean diameter, (OD+ID)/2. The error of using
mean diameter increases for reinforced concrete
pipes, pipes with ribs or stiffener rings, etc. Ring
deflection is the result of: 1. inflation or deflation of
the pipe, 2. flexing of the ring, 3. cracking of the ring
into segments, and 4. plastic hinging (or crushing) of
the pipe walls. Ring deflections of rigid and flexible
pipes are two different phenomena.
Each is
analyzed separately.
RIGID RING
Typical rigid pipes are concrete and vitrified clay
pipes. For rigid pipes, two basic modes of ring
deflection are elastic and segmented. Most rigid
pipes are brittle. The limit of elastic deflection is
reached when the pipe cracks into segments as
shown in Figure 7-2. Because there is no such thing
as a perfectly rigid pipe, the question arises, how
much elastic ring deflection occurs in the rigid ring?
For most rigid rings, elastic deflection is small
enough to be neglected. Hairline cracks are not
critical. Reduction in flow capacity is negligible.
Elastic ring deflection is calculated in the same way
for both rigid and flexible pipes.
Composite
(reinforced) pipe walls require a transformed section
for analysis. This is true for reinforced concrete
pipes, but may also be true for materials with
different properties in compression and tension.
Elastic ring deflections for various load conditions
are listed in Appendix A.
Example 1
A concrete pipe has ID = 36 and OD = 42 inches
with double cages of 1/4 inch steel reinforcing rods
spaced at 2 inches and located 0.6 inch from the
inside and outside surfaces of the pipe. See Figure
7-3

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. What is the elastic ring deflection at yield stress

of 1000 psi in the concrete for each of the three
different loading conditions shown? Cracks open if
tensile stress is greater than 1000 psi. From the
transformed section, EI/r3 = 1651 psi; and from
deflection equations in Appendix A, the
corresponding ring deflections are calculated and
summarized in Figure 7-3. None of these elastic ring
deflections is greater than 0.1%.
Segmented ring deflection is the result of cracks
opening at spring lines, crown and invert. See Figure
7-2. It is assumed that the segments are rigid. Ring
deflection can be calculated in terms of crack width
w. If the wall thickness is t and the neutral surface
is at mid-thickness of the wall, the ring deflection is
d = w/t. Allowing for some deflection of the
segments, and allowing for the possibility that neutral
surfaces are further from the pipe surfaces than t/2,
the lower limit of ring deflection is greater than w/2t.
Therefore,
td < w < 2td

. . . . . (7.1)

which shows a range of widths of the crack as a

function of wall thickness and segmented ring
deflection. The relationship is not precise because
cracks are undependable. For example, two parallel
cracks may open where only one is expected.
Example 2
Consider the same 36 inch ID reinforced concrete
pipe with three inch thick walls. If 0.01 inch wide
cracks open inside the pipe at the invert and crown,
from Equation 7.1, ring deflection is between d =
0.17% and d = 0.33%. Because of balanced
placement of steel, actual ring deflection may be
closer to the upper limit, say, d = 0.3%.
Ring deflection is more the result of cracking than it
is the result of elas tic deformation of the ring. The
small ring deflections justify design by rigid pipe
theories. See Chapter 12.

Figure 7-3 Ring deflection at incipient cracking of a reinforced concrete pipe under three different loading
conditions. Note that the maximum deflection is d = 0.1%.

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FLEXIBLE RING
As soil and surface loads are placed over a buried
flexible pipe, the ring tends to deflect primarily
into an ellipse with a decrease in vertical diameter
and an almost equal (slightly less) increase in
horizontal diameter. Any deviation from elliptical
cross section is a secondary deformation which may
be the result of non-uniform soil pressure. The
increase in horizontal diameter develops lateral soil
support which increases the load-carrying capac ity
of the ring. The decrease in vertical diameter
partially relieves the ring of load. The soil above the
pipe takes more of the load in arching action over
the pipe like a masonry arch. Both the increase
in strength of the ring and the soil arching action
contribute to structural integrity. Although some ring
deflection is beneficial, it cannot exceed a practical
performance limit. Therefore the prediction of ring
deflection of buried flexible pipes is essential. Ring
deflection is elastic up to the formation of cracks or
permanent ring deformations. Clearly, the ring can
perform with permanent deformations and even
with small crac ks, under some circumstances.
Performance can surpass yield stress to the
determination at which the ring becomes unstable.
Instability is explained in Chapter 10.

E'

E
I

= soil modulus = slope of a secant on the stressstrain diagram from the point of initial vertical
effective soil pressure to the point of maximum
vertical effective soil pressure,
= modulus of elasticity of the pipe wall,
= centroidal moment of inertia of the pipe wall
cross section per unit length of the pipe.

Figure 7-4 is a graph of the ring deflection term as a

function of stiffness ratio. From the graph, ring
deflection can be found as follows. Enter Figure 7-4
with a stiffness ratio, either Rs or Rs' and read out
the ring deflection term, d/e . If the vertical soil
strain e is known, ring deflection follows directly
from d/e . Figure 7-4 represents tests and field data
for buried flexible pipes.
Vertical soil strain e is predicted from laboratory
compression tests data such as the stress-strain
graphs of Figure 7-5 for cohesionless siltly sand.
Soil stiffness E' is the slope of a secant to the
anticipated soil pressure P on the stress-strain
diagram for a specific soil density. Graphs can be
provided by soil test laboratories for the specific
embedment to be used, and at the density to be
specified.

The following analyses of ring deflection are based

on elastic theory for which the pertinent pi-terms
are:
d
= ring deflection,
e
= average sidefill soil settlement,
d/e
= ring deflection term,
Rs
= stiffness ratio = E'D3/EI,
= ratio of soil stiffness E' to ring stiffness,
EI/D3; or to pipe stiffness, F/D , where
F/D
= 53.77 EI/D3.
Notation:
d = D /D = ring deflection,
= vertical decrease in ring diameter,
D = original diameter of the flexible ring (more
precisely, the diameter to the neutral surfaces of
the wall cross section),

For design, ring deflection of flexible pipes

buried in good soil is equal to (no greater than)
the vertical strain (compression) of the sidefill
soil.

D to be multiplied by Dmax /Dmin

= vertical soil strain due to the anticipated

vertical soil pressure at the pipe springlines,

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Ring stiffness contributes significant resistance to

ring deflection if Rs is less than about 300 (or Rs' is
less than 6); i.e. low soil stiffness and high ring
stiffness. For flexible pipes buried in good soil,
stiffness ratio is usually greater than 300. Therefore,

Circumstances aris e under which the above rule is

not accurate. Equations for ring deflection are listed
in Appendix A for a few loadings on rings of uniform
wall thickness that are initially circular. If not, one
set of approximate adjustment factors is:

Rs = (SOIL STIFFNESS)/(RING STIFFNESS)

Figure 7-4 Ring deflection term as a function of stiffness ratio. The graph is a summary of 140 tests plotted
at 90 percent level of confidence; i.e., 90 percent of test data fall below the graph.

Figure 7-5 Stress-strain relationship for typical cohesionless soil (silty sand). Ninety percent of all strains fall
to the left of the graphs. Vertical pressure is effective (intergranular) soil pressure.
Soil stiffness, E', is the slope of the secant from initial to ultimate effective soil pressures.

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t to be multiplied by t

min

/tmax

Equations have been proposed for predicting ring

deflection of flexible pipes. One of these is the Iowa
Formula derived by M. G. Spangler. The Iowa
Formula is elegant and correctly derived, but
depends upon a number of factors which may be
difficult to evaluate. Such questionable factors
include a deflection lag factor, bedding factor, the
horizontal soil modulus, and the assumptions on
which the Marston load is based. See Appendix B
and Spangler (1973).
The horizontal soil modulus, E', is particularly
troublesome. It is based on theory of elasticity
which is questionable. E' is not constant. In fact, E'
is a function of the depth of burial and the horizontal
compression of the sidefill soil as the pipe expands
into it.
The best procedure for design of buried flexible
pipes is to specify the allowable ring deflection, and
then make sure that vertical compression of the
sidefill soil does not exceed allowable ring deflection.
The Iowa Formula, and other deflec tion equations,
are approximate, but conservative.
Some are
compared in Appendix B. However, within the
precision justified in most buried pipe analyses, the
procedures described in the following examples are
more relevant and understandable.
Example 1
A corrugated plastic drain pipe (flexible) is to be
buried in clean dry sand backfill that falls into place
at 80 percent density (AASHTO T-180). What ring
deflection is anticipated due to 10 ft of soil cover
weighing 120 lb/ft3? Live load is neglected at this
depth of cover. The stiffness ratio is larger than R' s
= 6, therefore, from the ring deflection graph of
Figure 7-5, ring deflection is not more than about,
- = 1%.
d=C

Example 2
What is the predicted ring deflection? A PVC pipe
of

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DR = 14 is to be placed in embedment compacted to

80 percent density (AASHTO T-180) under 24 ft of
cohesionless silty sand at dry unit weight of 105
lb/ft3, but with a water table at 9 ft below the
surface. Saturated unit weight is 132 lb/ft3 . From
the Unibell (1882) Handbook of PVC Pipe, page
159, values of PVC pipe stiffness for DR = 14 pipes
vary from 815 to 1019 psi. Using, conservatively,
the lower value, pipe stiffness is F/ = 815 psi. The
soil stiffness is found from Figure 7-5. Because ring
deflection increases from zero at no soil pressure to
maximum at ultimate pressure, soil stiffness is the
slope of the secant from the origin to the point of
ultimate effective soil pressure on the stress-strain
diagram. Vertical soil strain is a function of
effective soil pressure (intergranular) not total
pressure. Effective soil pressure is,
P = 15ft(132pcf) + 9ft(105pcf)
- 15ft(62.4pcf) = 1.99ksf = 13.8psi
At 80% density, from Figure 7-5, the soil strain at
1.99 ksf is C
e = 1.85%. The soil stiffness is the slope
of the secant from 0 to 2 ksf on the 80% graph; i.e.,
E' = 13.8psi/0.0185 = 747 psi. The resulting stiffness
ratio is R' s = E'/(F/ ) = 747/815 = 0.92. Entering
the graph of Figure 7-4 with R' s = 0.92, the
corresponding ring deflection term is d/C
e = 0.48.
Ring deflection is 48% of the vertical soil strain C
e.
Because soil strain is 1.85%, the predicted ring
deflection is, d = 1.85%(0.48) 1.0%.
If a straight pipe of elastic material and circular
cross section is bent into a circular curve, the cross
section deforms into an ellipse. Ring deflection of
the cross section is,
d = 2Z/3 + 71Z2/135
where Z = 1.5(1-n2)D4/16t2R2
d = ring deflection = D /D,
D = decrease in pipe diameter,
n = Poisson ratio,
D = diameter of circular pipe,
t
= wall thickness,
R = radius of the bend.

. . . . . (7.2)

*Decrease in diameter is in the direction of the

radius of the bend. See Chapter 14 for example.

7-4 What is the probable ring deflection of an

unreinforced concrete pipe, ID = 30 inch and wall
thickness = 3.5 inches if a video from inside the pipe
reveals a 0.1-inch-wide crack in the crown?

REFERENCES
Spangler, M.G. (1973) and Handy, R.L. Soil
Engineering, IEP, New York
Unibell (1982), Handbook of PVC Pipe
Watkins, R.K. (1974), Szpak, E., and Allman, W.B.,
Structural design of polyethylene pipes subjected to
external loads, Eng'rg Expr. Sta., USU.

PROBLEMS
7-1 What is the ultimate ring deflection of a steel
water pipe, ID = 36 inches and t = 1 inch, buried
under saturated tailings which will rise ultimately to
250 ft? For tailings, G = 2.7. Unconsolidated, e =
0.7. When consolidated under H = 250 ft of tailings,
e = 0.5. Assume a straight line variation of e with
respect to height above the pipe. Water table is at
the ground surface.
(d = 11.8%)
7-2 A corrugated steel storm drain never flows full.
Therefore the granular backfill soil is essentially dry.
What is the ring deflection? Include HS-20 live load.
Given;
(0.8)
Soil (granular)
H = 4 ft = height of soil cover,
G = 2.7 = specific gravity,
e
= 0.7 = void ratio,
80% density (AASHTO T-180).
Steel pipe (corrugations 2 2/3 x 1/2)
D = 48 inches = diameter,
I
= 0.0180 in 4/ft (t = 0.052),
E
= 30(106) psi = modulus of elasticity.
7-3 What is the change in ring deflection of Problem 7-2 if the soil cover is increased from 4 ft to 26
ft using the same soil, same density?
(d = 1.6%)

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7-5 What is the ring deflection of a steel pipe, OD

= 26 inches and ID = 24 inches, if E = 30(106) ps i
and the soil cover is H = 40 ft.? The soil unit weight
is 100 lb/ft3 at 80% density (AASHTO T-180).
(Rs = 5.425; d = 0.064%)
7-6 Predict ring deflection of a plain steel pipe if:
D =
10 ft,
t
=
0.5 inch,
E =
30(106) psi.
Soil is granular, 90% dense (AASHTO T-180)
g = 120 lb/ft3,
H =
30 ft.
7-7 If the neutral surface is at the geometrical
center of the wall of Figure 7-2, prove that the width
of the crack is approximately w = td; where w
= width of crack
t
= wall thickness
d
= segmented ring deflection
= decrease in vertical diameter
D = diameter to neutral surface (NS)
It is assumed that the wall crushes in compression
on one side of the neutral surface just as much as it
stretches in tension on the other side before the
cracks open. This is not true for all materials.
7-8 If the ring of Figure 7-2 is vitrified clay or
unreinforced concrete, both of which are many times
stronger in compression than in tension, the
compression crushing zones in the wall are very
small. As a worst case, assume no wall crushing
and find the segmented ring deflection d if the
cracks open 0.01 inch.
7-9 Assume that the ring of Figure 7-2 is reinforced
concrete with a single steel wire cage in the center
of the wall. The wire is 1/4-inch diameter spaced at
2 inches. What is the vertical diameter to the neutral
surfaces?
(34.7 in)
6
t
= 3 inches
Es = 30(10 ) psi
ID = 30 inches
Ec = 3(106) psi

7-10 What is the horizontal diameter to the neutral

surfaces of Problem 7-9? What would be the
difference if the cracks were caused by uniform soil
load on top and bottom (no sidefill)?
7-11 A high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe has
a minimum outside diameter (OD) of 6.60 inch and
a maximum OD of 6.66 inch. The wall thickness
varies from 0.83 maximum to 0.80 minimum. What
is predicted ring deflection under the loading shown
in Figure 7-3c if P = 5.0 kips per square ft? Assume
that long-term virtual modulus of elasticity for HDPE
is 85 ksi.
7-12 What is the approximate ring deflection of the
reinforced concrete pipe of Figure 7-6 when the
width of crack at the crown is w = 0.06 inch?
7-13 If the load in Figure 7-6 is an F-load (parallel
plate load), where is the neutral surface at the spring
lines?
7-14 Are the cracks in Problem 7-13 exactly equal

on the inside at crown and invert, and on the outside

at spring lines? Explain.
7-15 What is the maximum limit of ring deflection
due to an F-load on a plastic pipe if permanent strain
damage occurs at 1.75 percent strain on the outside
surface? See Appendix A for deflection due to Floading. (d = 12.78 13%)
D = 0.5 meter,
t
= 16 mm,
E = 300 ksi (2.07 GN/m2).
7-16 How high can plastic pipes be stacked if
maximum allowable ring deflection is 10 percent?
OD = 4.24 inches = outside diameter,
ID = 3.92 inches = inside diameter,
w = 1.08 lb/ft = pipe weight,
E = 200 ksi = short term modulus of elasticity.
7-17 A flexible plastic pipe, DR = 31, for which F/D
= 90 psi, is buried in cohesionless soil with unit
weight of 110 pcf at 80 percent density (AASHTO
T-180). If the height of cover is 25 ft, what is the
predicted ring deflection?

Figure 7-6 Cross section of the wall of a reinforced concrete pipe, showing the transformed section in
concrete, and showing the procedure for finding the neutral surface (NS). It is assumed in this case that
concrete can take no tension.

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