Pipeline Vibration Characterization and Monitoring System Development

Abstract

Pipeline systems are used for the transportation of energy over long distances. Pipeline systems play an important role both now and in the future, given that carbon-based energy products will slowly be replaced by carbon-neutral energy products. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) utilizing operational vibroacoustic signals has become increasingly popular due to both its non-intrusive nature and its ability to provide continuous monitoring. To date, challenges have prevented widespread application to varying environments and flow conditions. The overall objective of this research is to experimentally and numerically investigate the operational vibration signal from pipelines under various boundary conditions (both above and below ground) and flow conditions (both single and multiphase) for the development of novel monitoring systems. In this thesis, several works have been performed: flow-induced vibration of a buried steel pipe structure due to internal flow turbulence; leak detection of small leaks in low-pressure pipelines; external disturbance detection and classification and flow pattern identification.