INDUSTRY NEWS North America
Study Finds Ductile Iron Pipe, Joints Outperform Others in Earthquakes In a study of the effects of earth-
quakes on water and sewer pipe, cast ductile iron pipe with restrained
joints proved superior to components produced in other materials, according to a paper appearing in the May 2010
issue of the Journal of the American Water Works Association. The paper, by Michael Tucker, senior
sales engineer with American Cast Iron Pipe, Birmingham, Ala. (a company that itself produces the products in ques- tion), reviewed data about pipe failures during modern-day earthquakes, in- cluding Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1964; Loma Prieta, Calif., 1989; and Northridge, Calif., 1994. “Earthquakes like these have dem- onstrated time and again the need for high-strength, flexible pipe with flexible joints,” Tucker said. “Whether the pipe and joints are flexible or rigid determines the ability of the pipeline to resist the motion and energy associated with earthquakes.” The study said ductile iron pipe and
joints sustained only minimal structural damage during the tremors. Asbestos- cement pipe had the worst failure rate, and plastic pipe was more likely to pull apart at the joints than ductile iron products. “Most mid- to large-size utilities
in seismic zones in this country use ductile iron pipe and joints designed for river crossings,” Tucker said. “This application has proven very effective in withstanding the effects of earthquakes.”
MC
Quality Certifications The following metalcasting or-
ganizations have passed a recent certification audit:
Pier Foundry & Pattern Shop Inc., St. Paul, Minn. (ISO 9007:2008);
H&H Castings Inc., York, Pa. (ISO 9001:2008);
Littlestown Foundry Inc., Littlestown, Pa. (ISO 9001:2008);
Paragon Machine Inc., St. Petersburg, Fla. (ISO 9001:2008);
Multi-Cast Corp., Wauseon, Ohio (ISO 9001:2008).
MC 12 MODERN CASTING / August 2010
Visit MODERN CASTING’s Late-Breaking Metalcasting News at
www.moderncasting.com
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