An Assessment and Modeling of Copper Plumbing pipe Failures due to Pinhole Leaks

Pinhole leaks in copper plumbing pipes are a big concern for the homeowners. The problem is spread across the nation and remains a threat to plumbing systems of all ages. Due to the absence of a single acceptable mechanistic theory no preventive measure is available to date. Most of the present mechanistic theories are based on analysis of failed pipe samples however an objective comparison with other pipes that did not fail is seldom made. The variability in hydraulic and water quality parameters has made the problem complex and unquantifiable in terms of plumbing susceptibility to pinhole leaks. The present work determines the spatial and temporal spread of pinhole leaks across United States. The hotspot communities are identified based on repair histories and surveys. An assessment of variability in water quality is presented based on nationwide water quality data. A synthesis of causal factors is presented and a scoring system for copper pitting is developed using goal programming. A probabilistic model is presented to evaluate optimal replacement time for plumbing systems. Methodologies for mechanistic modeling based on corrosion thermodynamics and kinetics are presented.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Civil Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Farooqi, Owais Ehtisham

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Loganathan, G. V.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Younos, Tamim
• Bosch, Darrell J.

• goal programming
• Pinhole leaks
• copper pitting
• home plumbing
• spatial and temporal patterns
• Water quality
• causality factors
• probabilistic modeling
• scoring system
• optimal replacement
• corrosion modeling

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-07072006-191236

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33918