In this study, a cumulative damage rate assessment model was enhanced by systematically deriving the modification factor and usage limit to quantitatively evaluate the damage rate of water distribution rate pipes according to the increase in service y...
In this study, a cumulative damage rate assessment model was enhanced by systematically deriving the modification factor and usage limit to quantitatively evaluate the damage rate of water distribution rate pipes according to the increase in service years. The modification factor was calibrated such that the cumulative damage rate reaches 1 when a pipe with 20 years of service life is used for an additional 50 years. The usage limit was defined as the cumulative damage rate value reached after 30 additional years of service for pipes already in use for 20 years. To ensure the reliability of the model, the final modification factor was determined by comparing the results of the direct pipe condition assessment and those derived from the cumulative damage rate-based condition assessment model, selecting the factor that showed the highest level of agreement. The refined model was applied to the water distribution system in Naedeok 2-dong, Cheongju City. As a result, Pipe No. 6 was found to be the first to reach the usage limit after 12 years of service, while Pipe No. 15 reached the limit last, after 31 years. The analysis confirmed that the cumulative damage rate of water pipes is influenced not only by service years but also by various factors such as pressure and pipe wall thickness. This validates the proposed model’s capability to quantitatively assess cumulative damage rate as service time increases.