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Instructor: Mark Peterson, P.E.

Purpose and Background

When water under pressure is forced to change directions, such as at a bend, large forces exist that try to separate the pipe at joints. This virtual workshop will cover the design of two different types of measures to offset these large forces – thrust blocks and restrained joints. The design of thrust blocks is more complicated than the standard details that are often used and an appropriate understanding of the design parameters can avoid a catastrophic failure. The design for joint restraint requires an understanding of the resisting forces, an understanding of the calculations necessary to determine the length of pipe that needs to be restrained and knowledge of the different options available to provide appropriate restraint.

Primary Discussion Topics

• Selecting appropriate design pressures
• thrust forces at bends, tees, valves and plugs
• soil parameters for thrust blocks
• Sizing thrust blocks for standard configurations
• Restrained joint types
• How restrained joints resist thrust forces
• Soil parameters for restrained joints
• required restrained joint length for standard configurations
• Use of restrained joint length calculators
• required restrained joint length for complex configurations
• Use of restrained joints in boring applications

Benefits and Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the forces in pressure pipes at bends and other fittings
• Explain how thrust blocks resist the thrust forces
• Explain how restrained joints resist the thrust forces
• Size thrust blocks and restrained joint lengths
• Explain how pipe pressure influences the thrust forces at bends and other fittings
• Find out why the standard details for thrust blocks may be inadequate for your location
• Learn how thrust block should be sized
• Examine some of the options now available to restrain pipe joints, in lieu of thrust blocks
• Learn how to calculate the required length of pipe that needs to be restrained

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Achievement of the learning outcomes by attendees will be assessed through in-class discussion, homework, and a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions) will also be administered.

Who Should Attend?

• Water System Design Engineers
• Wastewater System Design Engineers
• Public Agency Engineers

Outline

Day 1

• Thrust force calculations
• Soil parameters for thrust block sizing
• Sizing thrust blocks

Day 2

• Review of joint restraint types
• Calculation of required length of restrained joints
• Complex configurations and boring considerations

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion

This course is worth .4 CEUs/4 PDHs. To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 60 days of the course.