Underwater pipeline inspection using guided waves

Won Bae Na, Tribikram Kundu

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Underwater pipeline inspections are conducted using ultrasonic cylindrical guided waves in the laboratory environment. Three different types of mechanical defects - gouge, removed metal, and dent, are fabricated in small diameter, 22.22 mm, aluminum pipes and tested. To efficiently propagate the antisymmetric (flexural) cylindrical guided waves through the aluminum pipe in water, a new transducer holder device is designed. The device uses commercially available ultrasonic transducers that generate compressional ultrasonic waves in the water. The device can change the striking angle of the incident beam from 0° to 51°. With the help of this device the incident angle adjustment and frequency sweeping can be carried out. This is necessary for obtaining the time history of the received signals for various incident angles and signal frequencies; then these time histories are converted to V(f) curves, or received signal amplitude vs. frequency curves. From the amplitude of these V(f) curves the type and extent of the mechanical defects can be estimated. This investigation shows that the new coupler device can be effectively used for health monitoring of underwater pipelines using guided waves.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages37-47
Number of pages11
StatePublished - 2001
Event2001 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition - New York, NY, United States
Duration: Nov 11 2001Nov 16 2001

Other

Other2001 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew York, NY
Period11/11/0111/16/01

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanical Engineering

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