Will freezing water still expand width-wise in a pipe (possibly breaking it) if it's free to expand lengthwise?

Will freezing water still expand width-wise in a pipe (possibly breaking it) if it's free to expand lengthwise?


[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Oq8Uv.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Oq8Uv.png)




It might do.


Imagine you have a U-shaped pipe. The two ends are above ground. The pipe runs into the ground for a short length in the middle, then back out again. It's free at both ends but filled with water.


You have a problem there because in cold temperatures, the two above-ground parts are going to freeze first. Then, if it's really cold, the underground part will freeze also. When that happens, the already-frozen above-ground ice won't move and your underground pipe may well go pop. What was initially "free at both ends" became blocked.


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Yes, if you do it right and this is indeed a technique used to maintain pipes see: [1](https://youtu.be/XeNZzaEzeqg),[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmUUtJGIjHI).


That being said, there are obvious problems when you have two frozen chunks as ice in a pipe is able to withstand significant PSI without moving.


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