Fact Sheet No. 21 – Project overview – Innovation and development in critical pipe failure
Project overview – Innovation and development in critical pipe failure Overview The Advanced Condition Assessment & Pipe Failure Prediction (ACAPFP) Project is a vibrant collaboration of researchers and water utilities from around the globe dedicated to solving a major problem – failures in ageing critical pipelines which deliver fresh water to towns and cities of…
Fact Sheet No. 20 – Project overview – New activities and project update
Project overview: – New activities and project update Overview The Advanced Condition Assessment & Pipe Failure Prediction Project is a vibrant collaboration of researchers and water utilities from around the globe dedicated to solving a major problem – failures in ageing critical pipelines which deliver fresh water to the towns and cities of the world….
Fact Sheet No. 19 – Activity 3 – Methods for Predicting Pipe Corrosion
Activity 3 – Methods for Predicting Pipe Corrosion Overview Traditionally water pipes were often made from cast iron. Internally many of them have a cement lining intended to prevent internal corrosion and in most cases this is successful. The main problem for older cast iron pipes is external corrosion. Corrosion of pipes buried in the…
Fact Sheet No. 18 – Traffic loading tests on Sydney Water test bed
Traffic loading tests on Sydney Water test bed Overview The Sydney Water test bed (refer to Fact Sheet No.5 and No.15) is used to examine the behaviour of critical pipes buried under road and subjected to external loadings including traffic. On November 2013, traffic loading tests were performed on site over the bitumen road with…
Fact Sheet No. 17 – Pressure Transients monitoring in Hunter Water to verify causes for critical pipe failure
Numerical modelling of pressure transients in Hunter Water to predict critical pipe failure Overview Internal and external factors, which contribute to pipe failures, have been studied extensively during this research project. Internal pressure was identified as the most critical loading to cause high stresses in large diameter water pipes. A pressure monitoring program, which was…
Fact Sheet No. 16 – Pressure Transients monitoring in Hunter Water to verify causes for critical pipe failure
Pressure Transients monitoring in Hunter Water to verify causes for critical pipe failure Overview As part of Activity 1 internal and external factors contributing to pipe failures are being studied extensively. Water pressure, including likely pressure transients, is identified as one of the most critical factors contributing to failure of large diameter pipes. Two sections…
Fact Sheet No. 15 – An update on field instrumentation of Sydney Water test bed
An update on field instrumentation of Sydney Water test bed Overview A decommissioned cast iron pipe (refer to Fact Sheet No.5, May 2013) in Strathfield, Sydney was instrumented as part of the approach in Activity 1 to answer the question how, where and when pipes fail in a network. The current fact sheet provides updates…
Fact Sheet No. 14 – Activity 3 current work and progress
Activity 3 current work and progress Overview The overall aim of activity 3 is to develop external corrosion loss models for buried pipes as a function of time and soil environment. The approach currently being pursued is to develop a corrosion model based on corrosion fundamentals and on collected and documented field observations. Recent work…
Fact Sheet No. 13 – Pipe Stress Prediction Models for uniform pipes
Pipe Stress Prediction Models for uniform pipes Overview The primary objective of Activity 1 of the project is to obtain the methods for estimation of the remaining life of water mains. Usually, these water pipes are subjected to significant stresses due to internal (water pressure) and external (traffic and earth) loads. As many of these…
Fact Sheet No.12 – Data collection at Hunter Water condition assessment sites and initial model calibration
Data collection at Hunter Water condition assessment sites and initial model calibration Overview The aim of Activity 3 is to develop models for the description and prediction of the long-term corrosion losses and maximum pit depths of cast iron (and also steel) pipes buried in soil. The approach currently being pursued is to develop a…
Fact Sheet No.11 – Automatic Detection of Pipeline Construction Features with RFEC technology
Automatic Detection of Pipeline Construction Features with RFEC technology Overview In-line inspection with Remote Field Eddy Current (RFEC) tools requires detection of construction features such as joints, elbows and off-takes. We propose to automate this process using supervised learning. Firstly, signal processing techniques are used to detect features in the RFEC recorded data, where features in…
Fact Sheet No.10 – Distributed Strain Sensing with Optical Fiber Sensors
Distributed Strain Sensing with Optical Fiber Sensors Overview In Activity 1, we try to answer the question how, where and when pipes fail in a network. As part of this activity, smart monitoring techniques using optical fiber sensors as applicable to above ground or new buried pipelines are investigated.
Fact Sheet No.9 – Sensor modelling for BEM Technology: Gaussian Processes Approach
Sensor modelling for BEM Technology: Gaussian Processes Approach Overview Broadband Electro-Magnetic (BEM) concepts have been deployed in non-destructive testing by Rock Solid Group (RSG) for almost two decades. Due to the presence of large parametric variations and difficulty in accurate physical modelling of the sensor to pipe interaction, data driven machine learning techniques have been…
Fact Sheet No.8 – Multiple Defect Interpretation for MFL Technology: Gaussian Processes Approach
Multiple Defect Interpretation for MFL Technology: Gaussian Processes Approach Overview The Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) concept has been used in non-destructive testing for more than three decades. However, due to the presence of large parametric variations and difficulty in accurate physical modelling, data driven machine learning techniques have been in the forefront of research focus…
Fact Sheet No.7 – Monitoring and modelling of pressure transients for pipe failure analysis
Monitoring and modelling of pressure transients for pipe failure analysis Objectives In Activity 1, we try to answer the question how, where and when pipes fail in a network. Therefore, prediction of pipe failure is central considering internal/external factors. Water pressure including pressure transients is an important internal factor that can contribute to pipe failure….
Fact Sheet No.6 – Pilot program for data collection
Pilot program for data collection Partners in the Advanced Condition Assessment and Pipe failure Prediction Project met in November 2012 in a workshop at the University of Newcastle hosted by Professor Robert Melchers to discuss development of a corrosion model for critical pipes. Attendees discussed the need for a predictive model, explored the scientific underpinnings of…
Fact Sheet No.5 – Field instrumentation of Sydney test bed
Field instrumentation of Sydney test bed Objectives In Activity 1, we try to answer the question how, where and when pipes fail in a network. Therefore, prediction of pipe failure is central considering internal/external factors. Pressures induced by traffic and ground can have substantial contribution to overall factors that cause pipe failure. In order to…
Fact Sheet No.4 – How do we calculate pipe deterioration rates accurately with respect to the pipe environment?
Activity 3 How do we calculate pipe deterioration rates accurately with respect to the pipe environment? The overall aim of Activity 3 is to develop models to predict the long-term external corrosion of cast-iron cement lined pipes. The approach currently being used is to develop a corrosion model based on corrosion fundamentals and on documented field…
Fact Sheet No.3 – How do we assess the condition of the pipe cost effectively?
Activity 2 How do we assess the condition of the pipe cost effectively? The aim of the Activity is to advance knowledge and improve levels of confidence of direct methods for condition assessment using advanced data interpretation techniques. Its scope includes development of innovative methods for automatic interpretation of data gathered from existing sensors. A/Prof. Jaime…
Fact Sheet No.2 – How, when and where will pipes fail within the entire network?
Activity 1 How, when and where will pipes fail within the entire network? The aim of the Activity is to establish improved methodologies to predict remaining physical life of critical pipes taking into account the effect of external/internal factors, different material types and critical locations and factors within the network. This activity will draw from…
Fact Sheet No.1
Activity 1 How, when and where will pipes fail within the entire network? Associate Professor Jayantha Kodikara of Monash University is leading this Activity. Its aim is to establish improved methodologies to predict remaining physical life of critical pipes taking into account the effect of external and internal factors, different material types, and critical locations…