Improved leak detection methods for buried plastic PIPES based on measurements of ground-borne vibration

• Grant number: 19/00745-2
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: October 01, 2019 - September 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Mechanics of Solids
• Cooperation agreement: University of Southampton
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Michael John Brennan
• Grantee: Michael John Brennan
• Principal investigator abroad: Emiliano Rustighi
• Institution abroad: University of Southampton, England
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Fabrício César Lobato de Almeida ; Phillip Frederick Joseph
• Associated research grant: 18/25360-3 - Locating a leak from a buried plastic water pipe using multiple measurements of ground surface vibration, AP.R

Abstract

This project concerns leak detection in plastic water distribution pipes. It involves two research teams, one from UNESP in Brazil, and one from the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research at the University of Southampton, UK. The focus will be on a fundamental investigation of ground-borne vibration due to a leak in a buried pipe. Measurements will be made in the SABESP in Brazil and at a test-site in the UK. These data, along with archived data sets, will be analyzed to determine the mechanisms of noise propagation from the leak to the ground surface in soils found in Brazil and in soils found in the UK. It is envisaged that the work in this project will form the basis of linked projects on a new generation of Ground Listening Devices (GLDs) to be submitted to FAPESP (Brazil) and EPSRC (UK). (AU)