What Are Hume Pipes?
Hume pipes are pipes made of reinforced concrete. They are also called reinforced concrete pipes.
Their name is derived from the surname of the brothers who invented them. The Australian Hume brothers invented a method of manufacturing hume pipes using centrifugal force in 1910, which was introduced to Japan in 1925.
The pipes are manufactured by filling a steel bar-reinforced formwork with concrete and rotating it on its axis using centrifugal force to compact and solidify it. This process strengthens the pipes and reinforces them against both external and internal pressure.
Hume pipes are mainly used as conduits in water systems, such as sewage pipes.
Uses of Hume Pipes
Hume pipes have three main industrial applications. PVC pipes are becoming more commonplace in open-cut construction, calling for an inner diameter of 500 mm or less due to their light weight and versatility. However, Hume pipes remain the preference in cases requiring high pipe strength and in main waterways requiring an internal diameter that exceeds 1,000 mm.
1. Sewerage Projects
Domestic wastewater generated in daily life flows through Hume pipes and is collected at sewage treatment plants. After purification at the sewage treatment plant, the water is reused or discharged into rivers.
2. Irrigation Projects
Irrigation is essential to agriculture. Hume pipes are used to channel the water used for irrigation. Two common irrigation methods are flood (or furrow) irrigation, and spray (or sprinkler) irrigation. In many cases, naturally occurring rainwater is not enough to supply water, so hume pipes are used to channel water from rivers and ponds to agricultural land.
3. Rainwater Management Projects
In recent years, the flow of heavy urban rainfall into rivers has caused significant flooding. This is largely due to urbanization and the decrease in farmland and forests, reducing the area of water-retaining land. Hume pipes are used as storm sewers and storage pipes in rainwater reservoirs and management facilities.
Principle of Hume Pipes
1. Production of Hume Pipes
Hume pipes are generally made out of reinforced concrete and manufactured using centrifugal force.
First, the steel reinforcement bars are assembled to create both longitudinal and circumferential reinforcement along the pipe. This reinforcement structure is then placed within a cylindrical outer frame which will define the perimeter of the Hume pipe.
Next, while rotating the outer frame, concrete is poured in several stages. The resulting centrifugal force presses the concrete against the frame where it solidifies, forming the pipe.
The centrifugal force generated during this process is 25 to 40 times greater than gravity, which causes the water in the concrete to separate. This results in a water-to-cement ratio of less than 30%, resulting in dense, robust concrete pipes.
2. The Advantages of Hume Pipes
The main advantages of Hume pipes are their high quality and strength, their low cost compared to other pipes, and the fact that the raw materials can be supplied domestically.
Hume pipes are approximately 30% stronger than vibro-compacted concrete pipes of the same composition.
Characteristics
Of Hume Pipes
1. High Quality and High Strength
Hume pipes are manufactured and checked for quality in controlled factories. They are manufactured to meet industry standards for dimensional accuracy, strength, and materials, and tested for resistance to bending and cracking.
2. High Apparent Specific Gravity
Hume pipes have a high apparent specific gravity, which is advantageous in the event of a disaster where low buoyancy is beneficial, such as soil liquefaction.
3. Minimal Water Leakage
Because of how well-compacted they are during manufacturing, Hume pipes exhibit minimal leakage during use.
4. Lightweight and Cost-Effective
Hume pipes can be made thinner than other concrete pipes used for the same purpose, making them lighter and more cost-effective.
5. Compatibility with Special Construction Methods
It is possible to enhance the corrosion resistance of Hume pipes. One simple approach is to use polyurethane elastomers as an internal coating. Another option is to use antibacterial Hume pipe concrete to mitigate bacterial growth.
There are also techniques for enhancing flexibility to thrust pipes, so they can be used in curved installations.