Marine couplings withstand movement on land

Pipe couplings designed by Viking Johnson for use on the high seas have found an unexpected application on land.

Pipe couplings designed by Viking Johnson for use on the high seas have found an unexpected application on land.

The company's marine couplings were used to prevent leakage from the road drainage system on the Loudwater viaduct at junction 3 of the M40 motorway.

The system consists of 8, 10 and 12in OD PVC pipework suspended from the composite concrete/steel deck beneath the carriageway.

Pipes were connected by ductile iron couplings with a bitumen coating, the standard form of protection when they were installed in 1968.

Movement of the carriageway over the years had caused the pipework to "creep", loosening connections and giving rise to leakage.

Viking Johnson's marine couplings are designed to withstand movement and are therefore ideal for this application.

Coupling body, bolts and nuts are all galvanised to resist corrosion; locating plugs prevent creep of the coupling along the pipe; and the seal accommodates both angular deflection between pipes of up to 6 and as much as 10mm of expansion or contraction.

Carried out for UK Highways (M40), the seven month-long project saw 130 couplings installed in place of the originals along the whole length of the 400m-long viaduct by contractor Concrete Repairs.

Consultant was Hyder Consulting.

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