A Numerical Study of Damage Detection of Underwater Pipeline Using Vibration-based Method

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the feasibility of condition monitoring of untrenched pipelines at seabed through ambient vibration measurements. A finite element (FE) model is developed to calculate the dynamic responses of pipelines to ambient wave forces. The model takes into consideration the interaction between the ocean waves, submarine pipeline, and seabed. The fluid around the pipeline is simulated using the acoustic fluid elements, while soil is simulated by springs and dashpots. The ambient hydrodynamic force in the marine environment is simulated based on the Joint North Sea Wave Observation Project (JONSWAP) spectrum. The transfer function from the wave surface elevation to the wave force is used to get the wave force spectrum. The dynamic responses of the pipe structure with different assumed damage conditions to the ambient wave forces are calculated. The calculated dynamic responses are assumed as measured ambient vibration data in condition monitoring to extract the pipeline vibration properties, which in turn are used in the FE model updating calculation to identify the pipeline conditions. Different noise levels are introduced into the calculated dynamic responses to simulate uncertainties that may arise from measurement and ambient hydrodynamic environment. The effect of noise levels on the extraction of pipeline vibration properties, and on the identification of the pipeline conditions is investigated.