Concrete pipes have been known to exist for more than a thousand years. Being a long lasting and structurally strong material, a concrete pipe is generally used to conduct water supply or serve as drains in both rural and urban areas. Most concrete pipe water supply as well as drainage and sewer systems that have been constructed in the earlier century still stand strong and function as efficiently as when they had first been constructed.

Concrete pipe shapes and sizes

Concrete pipes are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. The five most common shapes include the circular, horizontal elliptical, the vertical elliptical, the arch and the rectangular ones. The shape of the pipe would depend upon the project or activity in which it is to be used. It would also depend upon the topography of the site, the cost and the structural efficiency of the project as well. Since concrete pipes are mostly used as conduit material, they are generally used where they would help in the natural flow of water supply or drainage as the case may be.

How are concrete pipes made?

There are many ways of making concrete pipes. Some of these methods use dry concrete mix to make concrete pipes. These methods include the centrifugal or spinning method, the dry cast method, the packerhead method and the tamp-entail method. Another method of making concrete pipes called the wet casting method makes use of a high-slump concrete mix. The basic materials for making concrete pipes are the same as for other concrete products such as cement, gravel, sand and water. In some projects, steel reinforcements may also be used for adding more strength to the concrete pipe structure.

Uses of concrete pipes

Concrete pipes have been used in irrigation systems, water supply lines, sanitary sewers, storm drains. Concrete pipes are the best conduit material for supply of water to farmlands and also for water supply to large cities as well. Most drainage systems also make use of concrete pipes. Storm drain systems play a very important role in crowded towns and cities and help in reducing the damage caused by floods.

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