Seismic Assessment of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Lift Stations

Lift stations are an underground utility transporting wastewater from residential or commercial sources to wastewater treatment plants. Lift stations are defined as a post-disaster structure according to national building code of Canada, which are required to remain operational immediately after earthquakes. A wealth of evidence from historical post-earthquake reconnaissance has confirmed the excellent performance of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines under earthquakes. However, the application of HDPE to lift stations is relatively new, and the seismic performance of HDPE lift stations remains poorly understood. This project aims to address these research gaps through two-dimensional and three-dimensional numerical simulations of HDPE lift stations subjected to seismic loading. The outcomes of this research will bring tangible benefits to the seismic resilience of wastewater infrastructure in Canada and contribute the scientific knowledge on emergency response planning.

Faculty Supervisor:

Cheng Lin

Student:

Wenyu Jiang

Partner:

Ryzuk Geotechnical

Discipline:

Engineering - civil

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Victoria