Using distributed optical fibre sensor to enhance structural health monitoring of a pipeline subjected to hydraulic transient excitation

Distributed optical fibre sensors have been applied in monitoring the structural health of water pipelines over the past decades. Most of these studies show that distributed optical fibre sensor is quite effective for static and quasi-static measurements and can be used for monitoring the condition of a pipeline. It is well known that pressure transients (water hammer) can occur in any pressurised pipeline system due to changes in the operating conditions. This article shows the ability of distributed optical fibre sensor to exploit these transient hydraulic pressures along the pipeline for assessing its condition. In this regard, this article aims to demonstrate the concept of utilising this natural stimulus to enhance the pipeline structural health monitoring with the distributed sensing. A total of three experimental case studies (multiple anomalies, material loss and leakage) along plastic pipes will then be reported using a water hammer as a transient excitation for the structural health monitoring applications using distributed optical fibre sensor. The results will show that the presence of a localised damage/anomaly monitored by the distributed optical fibre sensor is accentuated by the dynamic response of the pipe when subjected to water hammer.