5. Tube and ring testing

Thanks to their mechanical strength and chemical inertness, reinforced plastics are increasingly used to transport pressurized fluids in sectors as varied as geothermal energy, district heating, petrochemicals and the chemical industry.

Piping components (pipes, elbows, tees and fittings) subjected to high levels of mechanical, chemical and thermal stress therefore require rigorous qualification, based on specific tests. The American ASTM standards are still the most highly developed, offering comprehensive characterization tests (figure 34 ). Their international equivalents (ISO) are currently at the draft stage.