Regional applicability of ductile iron pipelines in water-supply systems: A review of climatic, geotechnical, seismic, and operational factors

Object of research. Ductile iron pipelines used in water-supply systems under differing climatic, geotechnical, seismic, and operational conditions in the Russian Federation. Objective. To systematize the regional factors governing the performance of ductile iron pipelines and to develop a reproducible framework for selecting their design configuration. Method. A critical review was performed using 121 scientific publications published between 1979 and 2026; standards and information on ten Russian projects implemented in 2020−2026 were assessed separately. For each study, the pipe material, unit of observation, exposure factor, damage mechanism, joint type, protection system, failure definition, and transferability limitations were recorded. Results. Regional applicability cannot be assessed from the wall material separately from the joints, external coating, internal lining, bedding, and operating regime. Seasonal ground movement and pipeline bending govern cold-climate applications; axial and angular joint deformation capacity governs seismic applications; external-protection integrity and backfill quality govern corrosive-soil applications; traffic loading, stray current, constrained repair access, and the cost of service interruption govern large-city applications; and cement-mortar lining condition and microbiological processes govern systems exposed to unstable water chemistry. The Russian project sample shows that ductile iron is primarily selected for transmission and urban water mains, while the joint type and protective configuration vary with topography, soil conditions, and installation method. Conclusions. An author-developed preliminary regional assessment framework is proposed, combining mandatory exclusion criteria, weighted factor scoring, and scenario-based robustness testing. The method does not assign a predetermined advantage to ductile iron over polyethylene, steel, or composite materials and requires calibration using local failure and cost data.

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