Comparison of methodologies for prediction of long-term properties of GRP pipes

This paper presents the approaches to be used in a European research project intended to develop new (and so far as possible short-term) test methods to estimate the long-term behaviour of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) pipes for water under pressure and sewerage applications. The new methods will be validated by comparison with the results obtained using the presently specified (very) long-term ones, the replacement of which is the main objective of the work. The starting of the work is previewed for the beginning of 1988 and so no results could be given now. Nevertheless, the authors have considered that the presentation of the methodology adopted in the research and the correlated topics could contribute for the discussion of the strategy to be followed for the study of the durability of high-diffusion composites.