Pipe Bursting is another technique in the Trenchless Technology family.

First, an entry hole and termination hole are excavated to expose the beginning and endpoints of the pipe section being replaced. A heavy cable is inserted through the failed section of pipe. One end is connected to the pulling winch and the other end of the cable is connected to the leading end of the expander, commonly referred to as the bursting head.

The bursting head’s diameter is slightly larger than the pipe being replaced. As the winch pulls the cable, the slightly oversized bursting head fractures the old pipe and pushes the resulting pipe fragments outwardly into the surrounding soils. As the bursting head advances, a new pipe is simultaneously pulled into the same position as the original pipe being replaced.