Welcome to John’s Blog. Answers to frequently asked questions are periodically posted here. The objective is to share information about PVC pipe with readers as well as with utilities, design engineers and pipe installers. The blog provides the latest information on PVC pipe design, installation, and application for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
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John Houle: Senior Technical Consultant, PVC Pipe Industry
John Houle holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri and an MBA from the University of Oregon. He has more than 25 years of experience in the plastic pipe industry in applications engineering, market development, forensic analysis, technical writing, and standards development.
The PVC pipe industry sometimes makes use of technical abbreviations that may not be fully understood by utility and consulting engineers. “DR” is a case in point. Mathematically the idea is simple, but the reasons for its use are not always obvious. Further, the interchangeable use of DR and SDR (Standard Dimension Ratio) can also add a layer of confusion. The attached technical brief discusses the math, distinguishes between DR and SDR, and provides the rationale for the concept’s use for both PVC pressure and non-pressure pipe. Click here to read. A numerical example will illustrate the idea – below are dimensions for three sizes of DR18 PC235 pressure pipe:
Size (in)
As OD increases, the wall increases proportionally so the dimension ratio of 18 is maintained.
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