COATED PIPE AND METHOD USING STRAIN-HARDENING BRITTLE MATRIX COMPOSITES

摘要

Pipe cladding is based upon a fiber-reinforced brittle matrix composite material. The coating is isotropic, demonstrating pseudo-strain hardening behavior in uniaxial tension, and damage tolerance by design, not relying on stratified layers of reinforcing mesh embedded within concrete or other brittle cementitious matrices for impact resistance, fracture toughness, or crack width control. The fiber reinforced brittle matrix composite cladding protects both the pipe and inner thin, anti-corrosion layer (if present) from impact or abrasion damage while permitting bending of coated and clad pipe. The finished composite clad can be in a simple circular form along the pipe or in some complex form providing an integrated housing for electrical or optical fiber cables, or optical sensing sensors for continuous or intermittent sensing of pipeline leakage or failure.