Fatigue cracking of corroded cast iron pipes exposed to complex loading

This Thesis presents the first experimental validation of a model for predicting the fatigue strength of Grey Cast Iron (GCI) pipes that feature corrosion pitting and are subjected to complex load combinations.

A unique aspect of this work was the extensive laboratory test programme. Novel experiments were used to investigate the effects of pit geometry and load type on the fatigue strength and leakage behaviour of GCI pipes.

The UK water industry has committed to reducing leakage from distribution pipes by 1.4x10^9 litres/day by 2050 to improve water supply drought resilience. This work provides a tool that can compare the leakage failure risk of specific GCI water pipes with a resolution that was not previously possible. Implementing this tool will allow asset managers to proactively replace pipes in a targeted way to reduce leakage.