Pipe Bursting is a method of replacing old pipe with a new pipe. The new pipe can have the same or larger inner diameter. This is accomplished by pulling a hardened steel splitting head through the old pipe. The new pipe is attached to the back of the splitting head and is pulled in as the old pipe is split and expanded. The new pipe follows the path of the old one and lies in its rubble. There are (2) types of pipebursting Static and Pneumatic. The new pipe is usually HDPE, however recent advances in pipe materials and joints allow newly installed pipes to be PVC, Ductile Iron, Steel, or even clay.  Download IPBA Pipebursting Specification
 

Static Pipebursting
80 Ton Static Burst Tooling with Slitter	Step #1 - Payout Rod
Step #2 - Attach tooling & New Pipe	Step #3 - Pull in new Pipe

Static Bursting Overview

1 - Payout Rod - payout the rod/chain down the existing pipe. 350 feet of rod/chain can be pushed/pulled out in approximately one hour. Rod/chain can pass through sweeping bends in pipe systems.
2 - Attach to Tooling - Attach bursting heads and/or ductile slitter to the rod/chain end. HDPE pipe is attached to an expander which is between 20 - 29% larger than the outside diameter of the pipe being installed.
3 - Pull Back Product - During pull back, old pipe is fractured or split and pushed out into the surrounding soil. The new pipe is installed simultaneously. Pullback operation takes approximately two hour to install 350 feet of pipe.

Pneumatic Pipebursting

Pneumatic Bursting Overview
Much like driving a nail pneumatic pipebursting uses a air powered hammer mounted inside of the bursting head to fracture, expand, and pull the new pipe into place.

1. The constant tension winch is ruggedly built to meet the demands of pipe bursting. The winches are designed to facilitate extraction of burst heads through manholes to reduce the need for expensive receiving pits.

2. Excavation costs can be reduced by utilizing manhole retrieval of the burst head.

3. A bursting head fitted to the pneumatic tool bursts damaged pipeline and pushes the fragments into the surrounding soil. As the tool bursts the pipe, new product of the same or larger size is pulled in. A reversible hammer allows for rear exiting of the pneumatic equipment at completion of the burst.

4. On larger or longer bursts, lubrication can increase production and the bursting distance capability by reducing pipe friction.

5. New HDPE is attached to the pneumatic pipe bursting tool and is pulled into place as the tool follows and bursts the existing line.

Cost Comparison of Open-cut and Trenchless Methods for Renewing Sewer Lines
http://www.uimonline.com/index/webapp-stories-action?id=182
By Rayman Mohamed, Mohammad Najafi and Behnam Hashemi — Oct 01, 2008


The newly installed pipe is usually HDPE or High Density Polyethylene.
High density polyethylene plastic pipe (HDPE) delivers exceptional value, unwavering reliability
and remarkable advantages over conventional types of piping. It’s today's right choice for water, drainage, fuel gas, conduit and plumbing & heating. Other reasons HDPE is a superior choice.