What Does
Radius Of Curvature Mean?
A radius of curvature refers to how tight the bend is on a pipe as it is installed underground. The tighter the bend of a pipe, the more stresses it is exposed to and the more likely it is to collapse. Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) routes must take into account the radius of curvature for the pipe.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Radius Of Curvature
Selecting entry and exit points for an HDD project affects the radius of curvature that a pipe will experience. These points must be carefully selected to ensure that the pipe is not overstressed on installation. As the pipe is pulled into position in an HDD installation, the tighter the bend, the more force will be needed to pull the pipe around the bend.
Design engineers calculate how much stress a pipe can absorb during their planning phase and specify the minimum rate of curvature to prevent failure.