Guidance Note

on the Design of Thrust Blocks

for Buried Pipelines

Revision : 0
Effective Date : 15 November 2004

Design Division
水務 署 Water Supplies Department
This Guidance Note on the Design of Thrust Blocks for Buried Pipelines and the information therein is the property of the Water
Supplies Department. All rights are reserved. No part of this guidance note may be reproduced in any form, transmitted by any means
or otherwise disclosed without prior permission of the Water Supplies Department.
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Table of Contents

REVISION SHEET

Guidance Note

1. SCOPE …………………………………………………………………. 1

2. REFERENCES ………………………………………………………... 1

3. BACKGROUND ………………………………………………………. 2

4. GUIDELINES …………………………………………………………. 2

Annex 1 – Design Parameters and Formulae

Annex 2 – Worked Examples

Drawing -
Standard Drawing No. WSD 1.40 – Typical Buried Thrust Block
Dimensions – For DN450 Ductile Iron Pipe or Below
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Revision Sheet

Chapter Chapter Revision

Table of Contents 0
Revision Sheet 0
Guidance Note 0
Annex 1 0
Annex 2 0
Revision 0
Effective Date 15/11/04
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Guidance Note on the Design of Thrust Blocks for Buried Pressure

Pipelines

1. SCOPE

1.1 This guidance note provides guidance on the design of thrust blocks for
buried pressure pipelines with cover of no less than 600mm. For more
detailed guidance, the reader may refer to the report on “A Review of Design
of Thrust Blocks” prepared by the Design Division, Water Supplies
Department.

1.2 Any feedback or comment on this guidance note should be referred to

Chief Engineer / Design whose address is as follows:

Room 4606A
46/F Immigration Tower
7 Gloucester Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong

2. REFERENCES

2.1 British Standards Institution (1992). BS 8010 – Code of Practice for

Pipelines.

2.2 Construction Industry Research and Information Association, UK (1994).

CIRIA Report 128 : Guide to Design of Thrust Blocks for Buried Pressure
Pipelines.

2.3 Design Division, Water Supplies Department (2003). A Review of Design

of Thrust Blocks.

2.4 Design Division, Water Supplies department (2003). Civil Engineering

Design Manual
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2.5 Kubota (2000). Ductile Iron Pipeline Design Manual (Third Edition).

2.6 Ng, Vitus (1993). Hong Kong Polytechnic University MSc Thesis on
Thrust Blocks Design for Water Pipelines.

2.7 W. Heffer & Sons Ltd. (1972). Manual of British Water Engineering
Practice (Fourth Edition) Volume II – Engineering Practice.

3. BACKGROUND

3.1 The findings of a review on thrust block design undertaken by the Design
Division are the basis of this guidance note.

3.2 To strive for improved design economy, the review recommended a number
of changes to the thrust block design assumptions and criteria set out in
Section 1.9.9(h) of Chapter 1 (Revision 3) of Volume II of the Civil
Engineering Design Manual. The revised design assumptions and criteria
are presented in detail in this guidance note. At the same time, design
formulae and worked examples are inlcuded to illustrate their application to
design.

3.3 In Section 1.9.9(h) in the subsequent revision of Chapter 1 of Volume II of

the Civil Engineering Design Manual, namely Revision 4, the revised thrust
block design assumptions and criteria are incorporated.

4. GUIDELINES

4.1 Revised Design Assumptions and Criteria

4.1.1 Thrusts developed due to changes in pipe direction, dead ends or changes in
pipe diameter are considered. Forces due to changes in velocity head are
assumed negligible.
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4.1.2 Pipes with rigid joints, e.g. steel pipes with welded and flanged joints,
welded collars etc., or PE pipes with fusion joints, take half the thrust
through the longitudinal continuity of the pipe itself while the other half is
taken by thrust blocks.

4.1.3 On a pipeline generally with rigid joints, there cannot be any loose joint (e.g.
a flange adaptor, coupling joint, expansion joint etc.) within a certain safe
length so calculated as to enable ground anchorage to be adequately
mobilised from either side of a bend or from a blank end or taper.
Otherwise, the thrust block at the bend, blank end or taper is required to
resist the whole of the thrust in the same way as a thrust block on a pipeline
with flexible joints.

4.1.4 For pipes with flexible joints (e.g. DI pipes with socket and spigot joints,
etc.) all the thrust must be assumed to be taken by thrust blocks.

4.1.5 Buried thrust blocks other than those on cross-country mains where pipe
cover is less than 600mm will be designed against working conditions as
follows:

(a) Maximum working pressure = maximum static pressure or maximum

operating pressure

(b) A minimum factor of safety of 1.1 against sliding when the thrust
block is fully exposed and at the same time the main continues to be in
operation.
FOS against sliding (short term working conditions) = 1.1

(c) A minimum factor of safety of 1.5 against sliding when the thrust
block is under normal working conditions when there is no road
opening going in the vicinity of the thrust block. 1/6 of passive
pressure is allowed to be mobilised and the soil parameters are
assumed to be ’ = 30o and c’ = 0 and the depth of overburden = 0.5m.
FOS against sliding (normal working conditions) = 1.5
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(d) A minimum factor of safety of 3.0 for bearing capacity.

FOS for bearing = 3.0

4.1.6 The blocks are also to be checked against pressure testing conditions as
follows:

(a) The testing pressure equal to the greater of

(i) 1.5 times the maximum working pressure except that, if the
maximum working pressure exceeds 1.5 MPa, the testing pressure
shall be 1.3 times the maximum working pressure, or

(ii) the maximum total pressure under surge conditions

(b) A minimum factor of safety of 1.1 against sliding shall be adopted.

“1/6” of passive pressure is allowed to be mobilised and the soil
parameters are assumed to be ’ = 30o and c’ = 0 and the ground level
at least 0.5 m above the top of the thrust block.
FOS against sliding (testing conditions) = 1.1

(c) Where the thrust block is one to restrain a top vertical bend, taper or
blank end, it can also be assumed that there is at least 0.5m thick
backfill over the entire top vertical bend, taper or blank end block
during testing.

4.2 Design Methods

4.2.1 The design formulae given in Annex 1 can be made use of in determining
sizes of thrust blocks of various types. In the light of the revised design
assumptions and criteria, appropriate values are assigned to certain
parameters. These are also provided in Annex 1.

4.2.2. Worked examples demonstrating the use of the design formulae are
presented in Annex 2.
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4.2.3 Alternatively, for ductile iron mains with nominal diameters between DN80
and DN450 operating at maximum pressure heads ranging from 60m to
120m, thrust block dimensions are obtainable from Standard Drawing No.
WSD 1.40. The thrust block dimensions shown on Standard Drawing No.
WSD 1.40 have been derived from calculations performed using the
formulae given in Annex 1.
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Annex 1 – Design Parameters and Formulae

1. DESIGN PARAMETERS

Symbols Description

A, B, C thrust block dimensions

D, d nominal diameter of pipe

 angle of bend

Ec = 0.5m depth of soil overlying

Rw thrust at working condition

Rt thrust at testing condition

Vc volume of thrust block concrete

Vw volume of water in thrust block

qv vertical bearing pressure

qav = 150kPa allowable vertical bearing pressure

Hw design working pressure head

Ht design testing pressure head

c = 23.6 kN/m3 specific weight of concrete

w = 9.81 kN/m3 specific weight of water

s = 18 kN/m3 specific weight of compacted backfill

μ = 0.5 coefficient of dynamic friction between soil and concrete

Fp lateral earth pressure

S backfill load on top of thrust block

Fsw,s = 1.1 factor of safety against sliding during short term working
condition
Fsw,n = 1.5 factor of safety against sliding during normal working
condition
Fst = 1.1 factor of safety against sliding during testing

f = 1/6 fraction of earth pressure mobilised

Kp = 3 coefficient of passive earth pressure

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2. DESIGN FORMULAE

2.1 Horizontal Bend Block

Ec

D
Fp

Volume of horizontal bend block concrete:

Vc = (2A – B tan(/2))(BC – p D2 /4)
Volume of water inside bend block:
Vw = (2A – B tan(/2))(p D2 /4)
Working and testing thrusts:
Rw = 2wHw(pD2 /4) sin(/2)
Rt = 2wHt (pD2/4) sin(/2)

Check sliding during short term working condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw)
Fsw,s = = 1.1
Rw

Checking of sliding during normal working condition

Consider lateral resistance:
Fp = Kp (2Ec + C) A C s cos(/2)
Consider compacted backfill on top of the horizontal bend block:
S = s Ec B (2A – B tan(/2))

μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S) + f Fp
Fsw,n = = 1.5
Rw

Check sliding during testing condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw) + f Fp
Fst = = 1.1
Rt
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2.2 Top Vertical Bend Block

EC

Volume of top vertical bend block concrete:

Vc = (2A – C tan(/2))(BC – p D2 /4)
Volume of water inside bend block:
Vw = (2A – C tan(/2))(p D2 /4)
Working and testing thrusts:
Rw = 2wHw(pD2 /4) sin(/2)
Rt = 2wHt (pD2/4) sin(/2)

Check sliding during short term working condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw - Rw cos(/2))
Fsw,s = = 1.1
Rw sin(/2)

Check sliding during normal working condition

Consider compacted backfill on top of the top vertical bend block:
S = s Ec A B (1+ cos )
μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S - Rw cos(/2))
Fsw,n = = 1.5
Rw sin(/2)

Check sliding during testing condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S - Rt cos(/2))
Fst = = 1.1
Rt sin(/2)
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2.3 Bottom Vertical Bend Block

Volume of bottom vertical bend block concrete:

Vc = (2A – C tan(/2))(BC – p D2 /4)
Volume of water inside bend block:
Vw = (2A – C tan(/2))(p D2 /4)
Working and testing thrusts:
Rw = 2wHw(pD2 /4) sin(/2)
Rt = 2wHt (pD2/4) sin(/2)

Check bearing capacity during testing condition

c Vc + w Vw + Rt cos(/2)
qv = = qav
A B (1+ cos )
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2.4 90o Tee Block

Fp

Fp

Volume of tee block concrete:

Vc = A B C – A p D2 /4
Volume of water inside tee block
Vw = A p D2 /4
Working and testing thrusts:
Rw = wHw pd2 /4
Rt = wHt pd2 /4

Check sliding during short term working condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw)
Fsw,s = = 1.1
Rw

Checking of sliding during normal working condition

Consider lateral resistance:
Kp (2Ec + C) A C s
Fp =
2
Consider compacted backfill on the top of the tee block:
S = s Ec A B
μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S) + f Fp
Fsw,n = = 1.5
Rw

Check sliding during testing condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw) + f Fp
Fst = = 1.1
Rt
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2.5 Taper Block

EC

D d

Volume of taper block concrete:

Vc = A B C – A p (D + d)2 /16
Volume of water inside taper block:
Vw = A p (D + d)2 /16
Working and testing thrusts:
Rw = wHw p (D2 - d2)/4
Rt = wHt p (D2 - d2 )/4

Case 1 : DI pipe connecting to DI pipe

Check sliding during short term working condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw)
Fsw,s = = 1.1
Rw

Check sliding during normal working condition

Consider compacted backfill on top of the taper block:
S = s Ec A B
μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S)
Fsw,n = = 1.5
Rw

Check sliding during testing condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S)
Fst = = 1.1
Rt
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Case 2 : MS pipe connecting to MS pipe

Check sliding during short term working condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw)
Fsw,s = = 1.1
Rw/2

Checking of sliding during normal working condition

Consider compacted backfill on top of the taper block:
S = s Ec A B
μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S)
Fsw,n = = 1.5
Rw/2

Check sliding during testing condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S)
Fst = = 1.1
Rt /2

Case 3 : DI pipe connecting to MS pipe

Check sliding during short term working condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw)
Fsw,s = = 1.1
(2/3)Rw

Check sliding during normal working condition

Consider compacted backfill on top of the taper block:
S = s Ec A B
μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S)
Fsw,n = = 1.5
(2/3)Rw

Check sliding during testing condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S)
Fst = = 1.1
(2/3)Rt
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2.6 End Block

EC

To be filled with compacted soil

prior to testing
A

EC

Fp
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Volume of end block concrete:

Vc = A B C – A p D2 /4
Volume of water inside end block:
Vw = A p D2 /4
Working and testing thrusts:
Rw = wHw pD2 /4
Rt = wHt pD2 /4

Check sliding during short term working condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw)
Fsw,s = = 1.1
Rw

Checking of sliding during normal working condition

Consider lateral resistance:
Kp (2Ec + C) B C s
Fp =
2
Consider compacted backfill on top of the end block:
S = s Ec A B
μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S) + f Fp
Fsw,n = = 1.5
Rw

Check sliding during testing condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S) + f Fp
Fst = = 1.1
Rt
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Annex 2 - Worked Examples

1. HORIZONTAL BEND BLOCK

Design Parameters:
A = 2000 mm μ = 0.5
B = 2000 mm Kp = 3.0
C = 2000 mm Ec = 500 mm
 = 45º c = 23.6 kN/m3
D = 450 mm w = 9.81 kN/m3
Hw = 110 m s = 18.0 kN/m3
Ht = 1.5 Hw = 165 m, since Hw <150 MPa f = 1/6

Volume of horizontal bend block concrete:

Vc = (2A – B tan(/2))(BC – p D2 /4)
= (2 x 2 – 2 x tan 22.5º) x (2 x 2 – p x 0.452 /4)
= 12.18 m3
Volume of water inside bend block:
Vw = (2A – B tan(/2))(p D2 /4)
= (2 x 2 – 2 x tan 22.5º) x p x 0.452 /4
= 0.5 m3
Working and testing thrusts:
Rw = 2wHw(pD2 /4) sin(/2)
= 2 x 9.81 x 110 x p x 0.452 /4 x sin 22.5º
= 131.35 kN
Rt = 2wHt (pD2/4) sin(/2)
= 2 x 9.81 x 165 x p x 0.452/4 x sin 22.5º
= 197.03 kN

Check sliding during short term working condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw)
Fsw,s =
Rw
0.5 x (23.6 x 12.18 + 9.81 x 0.5)
=
131.35
= 1.11 > 1.1 ok
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Checking of sliding during normal working condition

Consider lateral resistance:
Fp = Kp (2Ec + C) A C s cos(/2)
= 3 x (2 x 0.5 + 2) x 2 x 2 x 18 x cos 22.5º
= 598.67 kN
Consider compacted backfill on top of the horizontal bend block:
S = s Ec B (2A – B tan(/2))
= 18 x 0.5 x 2 x (2 x 2 – 2 x tan 22.5º)
= 57.09 kN
μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S) + f Fp
Fsw,n =
Rw
0.5 x (23.6 x 12.18 + 9.81 x 0.5 + 57.09) + 1/6 x 598.67
=
131.35
= 2.09 > 1.5 ok

Check sliding during testing condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw) + f Fp
Fst =
Rt
0.5 x (23.6 x 12.18 + 9.81 x 0.5) + 1/6 x 598.67
=
197.03
= 1.25 > 1.1 ok
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2. TOP VERTICAL BEND BLOCK

Design Parameters:
A = 2000 mm μ = 0.5
B = 2000 mm Kp =3.0
C = 2000 mm Ec = 500 mm
 = 45º c = 23.6 kN/m3
D = 450 mm w = 9.81 kN/m3
Hw = 110 m s = 18.0 kN/m3
Ht = 1.5 Hw = 165 m, since Hw <150 Mpa

Volume of top vertical bend block concrete:

Vc = (2A – C tan(/2))(BC – p D2 /4)
= (2 x 2 – 2 x tan 22.5º) x (2 x 2 -p 0.452 /4)
= 12.18 m3
Volume of water inside bend block:
Vw = (2A – C tan(/2))(p D2 /4)
= (2 x 2 - 2 x tan 22.5º) x (p 0.452 /4)
= 0.50 m3
Working and testing thrusts:
Rw = 2wHw(pD2 /4) sin(/2)
= 2 x 9.81 x 110 x p x 0.452 /4 x sin 22.5º
= 131.35 kN
Rt = 2wHt (pD2/4) sin(/2)
= 2 x 9.81 x 165 x p x 0.452/4 x sin 22.5º
= 197.03 kN

Check sliding during short term working condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw - Rw cos(/2))
Fsw,s =
Rw sin(/2)
0.5 x (23.6 x 12.18 + 9.81 x 0.50 – 131.35 x cos 22.5º)
=
131.35 x sin 22.5º
= 1.70 > 1.1 ok

Check sliding during normal working condition

Consider compacted backfill on top of the top vertical bend block:
S = s Ec A B (1+ cos )
= 18 x 0.5 x 2 x 2 x (1 + cos 45º)
= 61.46 kN
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μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S - Rw cos(/2))

Fsw,n =
Rw sin(/2)
0.5 x (23.6 x 12.18 + 9.81 x 0.5 + 61.46 – 131.35 x cos 22.5º)
=
131.35 x sin 22.5º
= 2.31> 1.5 ok

Check sliding during testing condition

Consider compacted backfill on top of the top vertical bend block:
S = s Ec A B (1+ cos )
= 18 x 0.5 x 2 x 2 x (1+cos 45º)
= 61.46 kN
μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S – Rt cos(/2))
Fst =
Rt sin(/2)
0.5 x (23.6 x 12.18 + 9.81 x 0.5 + 61.46 – 197.03 x cos 22.5º)
=
197.03 x sin 22.5º
= 1.14 > 1.1 ok
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3. BOTTOM VERTICAL BEND BLOCK

Design Parameters:
A = 1100 mm μ = 0.5
B = 750 mm Kp =3.0
C = 750 mm Ec = 500 mm
 = 45º c = 23.6 kN/m3
D = 450 mm w = 9.81 kN/m3
Hw = 110 m s = 18.0 kN/m3
Ht = 1.5 Hw = 165 m, since Hw <150 Mpa qav = 150 kPa

Volume of bottom vertical bend block concrete:

Vc = (2A – C tan(/2))(BC – p D2 /4)
= (2 x 1.1 – 0.75 x tan 22.5º) x (0.75 x 0.75 -p 0.452 /4)
= 0.76 m3
Volume of water inside bend block:
Vw = (2A – C tan(/2))(p D2 /4)
= (2 x 1.1 – 0.75 x tan 22.5º) x (p 0.452 /4)
= 0.30 m3
Working and testing thrusts:
Rw = 2wHw(pD2 /4) sin(/2)
= 2 x 9.81 x 110 x (p 0.452 /4) x sin 22.5º
= 131.35 kN
Rt = 2wHt (pD2/4) sin(/2)
= 2 x 9.81 x 165 x (p 0.452 /4) x sin 22.5º
= 197.03 kN

Check sliding during short term working condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw + Rw cos(/2))
Fsw,s =
Rw sin(/2)
0.5 x (23.6 x 0.76 + 9.81 x 0.3 + 131.35 x cos 22.5º)
=
131.35 x sin 22.5º
= 1.41 > 1.1 ok

Check sliding during normal working condition

Consider compacted backfill on top of the top vertical bend block:
S = s Ec A B (1+ cos )
= 18 x 0.5 x 1.1 x 0.75 x (1 + cos 45º)
= 12.68 kN
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μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S + Rw cos(/2))

Fsw,n =
Rw sin(/2)
0.5 x (23.6 x 0.76 + 9.81 x 0.3 + 12.68 + 131.35 x cos 22.5º)
=
131.35 x sin 22.5º
= 1.54> 1.5 ok

Check sliding during testing condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw+ Rt cos(/2))
Fst =
Rt sin(/2)
0.5 x (23.6 x 0.76 + 9.81 x 0.3 + 197.03 x cos 22.5º)
=
197.03 x sin 22.5º
= 1.35> 1.1 ok

Check bearing capacity during testing condition

c Vc + w Vw + Rt cos(/2)
qv =
A B (1+ cos )
23.6 x 0.76 + 9.81 x 0.3 + 197.03 x cos 22.5º
=
1.1 x 0.75 x (1 + cos 45º)
= 144.12 kPa < 150 kPa ok
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4. 90o TEE BLOCK

Design Parameters:
A = 2600 mm μ = 0.5
B = 2500 mm Kp =3.0
C = 2500 mm Ec = 500 mm
D = 450 mm c = 23.6 kN/m3
d = 450 mm w = 9.81 kN/m3
Hw = 110 m s = 18.0 kN/m3
Ht = 1.5 Hw = 165 m, since Hw <150 Mpa f = 1/6

Volume of tee block concrete:

Vc = A B C – A p D2 /4
= 2.6 x 2.5 x 2.5 – 2.6 p 0.452 /4
= 15.84 m3
Volume of water inside tee block
Vw = A p D2 /4
= 2.6 p 0.452 /4
= 0.41 m3
Working and testing thrusts:
Rw = wHw pd2 /4
= 9.81 x 110 p 0.452 /4
= 171.62 kN
Rt = wHt pd2 /4
= 9.81 x 165 p 0.452 /4
= 257.44 kN

Check sliding during short term working condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw)
Fsw,s =
Rw
0.5 x (23.6 x 15.84 + 9.81 x 0.41)
=
171.62
= 1.10 > 1.1 ok
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Checking of sliding during normal working condition

Consider lateral resistance:
Kp (2Ec + C) A C s
Fp =
2
3 x (2 x 0.5 + 2.5) x 2.6 x 2.5 x 18
=
2
= 614.25 kN

Consider compacted backfill on the top of the tee block:

S = s Ec A B
= 18 x 0.5 x 2.6 x 2.5
= 58.5 kN
μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S) + f Fp
Fsw,n =
Rw
0.5 x (23.6 x 15.84 + 9.81 x 0.41 + 58.5) + 1/6 x 614.25
=
171.62
= 1.87 >1.5 ok

Check sliding during testing condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw) + f Fp
Fst =
Rt
0.5 x (23.6 x 15.84 + 9.81 x 0.41) + 1/6 x 614.25
=
257.44
= 1.13 > 1.1 ok
 Guidance Note on the Design of Annex 2
Thrust Blocks for Buried Pipelines Page : 9 of 12
Design Division Revision : 0
水 務 署 Water Supplies Department Date : 15/11/04

5. TAPER BLOCK

Design Parameters:
A = 2400 mm μ = 0.5
B = 2200 mm Kp =3.0
C = 2200 mm Ec = 500 mm
D = 450 mm c = 23.6 kN/m3
d = 300 mm w = 9.81 kN/m3
Hw = 110 m s = 18.0 kN/m3
Ht = 1.5 Hw = 165 m, since Hw <150 Mpa

Volume of taper block concrete:

Vc = A B C – A p (D + d)2 /16
= 2.4 x 2.2 x 2.2 – 2.4 p (0.45 + 0.3)2 /16
= 11.35 m3
Volume of water inside taper block:
Vw = A p (D + d)2 /16
= 2.4 p (0.45 + 0.3)2 /16
= 0.27 m3
Working and testing thrusts:
Rw = wHw p (D2 - d2)/4
= 9.81 x 110 p (0.452 - 0.32 ) /4
= 95.35 kN
Rt = wHt p (D2 - d2 )/4
= 9.81 x 165 p (0.452 - 0.32) /4
= 143.02 kN

Check sliding during short term working condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw)
Fsw,s =
Rw
0.5 x (23.6 x 11.35 + 9.81 x 0.27)
=
95.35
= 1.42 > 1.1 ok

Check sliding during normal working condition

Consider compacted backfill on top of the taper block:
S = s Ec A B
= 18 x 0.5 x 2.4 x 2.2
= 47.52 kN
 Guidance Note on the Design of Annex 2
Thrust Blocks for Buried Pipelines Page : 10 of 12
Design Division Revision : 0
水 務 署 Water Supplies Department Date : 15/11/04

μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S)
Fsw,n =
Rw
0.5 x (23.6 x 11.35 + 9.81 x 0.27 + 47.52)
=
95.35
= 1.67 > 1.5 ok

Check sliding during testing condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S)
Fst =
Rt
0.5 x (23.6 x 11.35 + 9.81 x 0.27 + 47.52)
=
143.02
= 1.11 > 1.1 ok
 Guidance Note on the Design of Annex 2
Thrust Blocks for Buried Pipelines Page : 11 of 12
Design Division Revision : 0
水 務 署 Water Supplies Department Date : 15/11/04

6. END BLOCK

Design Parameters:
A = 2600 mm Kp =3.0
B = 2500 mm Rf = 1.0
C = 2500 mm Ec = 500 mm
θ = 45 c = 23.6 kN/m3
D = 450 mm w = 9.81 kN/m3
Hw = 110 m s = 18.0 kN/m3
Ht = 1.5 Hw = 165 m, since Hw <150 MPa f = 1/6
μ = 0.5

Volume of end block concrete:

Vc = A B C – A p D2 /4
= 2.6 x 2.5 x 2.5 – 2.6 p 0.452 /4
= 15.84 m3
Volume of water inside end block:
Vw = A p D2 /4
= 2.6 p 0.452 /4
= 0.41 m3
Working and testing thrusts:
Rw = wHw pD2 /4
= 9.81 x 110 p 0.452 /4
= 171.62 kN
Rt = wHt pD2 /4
= 9.81 x 165 p 0.452 /4
= 257.44 kN

Check sliding during short term working condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw)
Fsw,s =
Rw
0.5 x (23.6 x 15.85 + 9.81 x 0.41)
=
171.26
= 1.10 > 1.1 ok
 Guidance Note on the Design of Annex 2
Thrust Blocks for Buried Pipelines Page : 12 of 12
Design Division Revision : 0
水 務 署 Water Supplies Department Date : 15/11/04

Checking of sliding during normal working condition

Consider lateral resistance:
Kp (2Ec + C) B C s
Fp =
2
3 x (2 x 0.5 + 2.5) x 2.5 x 2.5 x 18
=
2
= 590.63 kN
Consider compacted backfill on top of the end block:
S = s Ec A B
= 18 x 0.5 x 2.6 x 2.5
= 58.5 kN
μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S) + f Fp
Fsw,n =
Rw
0.5 x (23.6 x 15.85 + 9.81 x 0.41 + 58.5) + 1/6 x 590.63
=
171.62
= 1.84 > 1.5 ok

Check sliding during testing condition

μ (c Vc + w Vw+ S) + f Fp
Fst =
Rt
0.5 x (23.6 x 15.85 + 9.81 x 0.41 + 58.5) + 1/6 x 590.63
=
257.44
= 1.23 > 1.1 ok
Drawing

Standard Drawing No. WSD 1.40

Typical Buried Thrust Block Dimensions –
For DN450 Ductile Iron Pipe or Below