Comparative Analysis of Low-Velocity Impact on Pressurized uPVC Pipes: Experimental and Finite Element Simulation

A comparison between numerical and experimental results is reported on pressurized uPVC pipe which have been impacted by an impactor with low velocity up to 7.37 m/s (24.18 ft/s). The uPVC pipe is supported with fully clamped support at both ends across the span and impact load is struck at the mid-span. The pipes are pressurized with water. The low velocity impact energy causes permanent deformation of the uPVC pipe specimen and a plastic zone is produced on pipe surface. The pipe is pressurized with 689.476 KPa (100 psi) and impacted at different velocities. A Finite Element Analysis (FEA) by a commercial software ABAQUS 6.14 is used to simulate the pressurized pipe under low velocity impact. The permanent deflection and the plastic zone are investigated from this software and compared with the experimental results. A good convergency was observed and reported.