Pipe Burst Detection, Localization, and Quantification Using the Transient Pressure Damping Method

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present a technique for burst detection, localization, and cross-sectional area quantification based on the damping of fluid transients. The Fourier components of the transient signal are damped differently due to the presence of the burst and the unsteady friction it causes. An unsteady friction water hammer (UFWH) model has been developed and validated to determine the unsteady friction damping. The burst damping can then be calculated, and this both indicates the presence of the burst and contains information about the burst location and the associated cross-sectional area. The corresponding numerical studies and experimental results are presented in this paper. By applying the technique outlined in this paper, the errors of the resultant burst location from the numerical and experimental analyses are 1%–1.5% and 1.57%–4.05%, respectively.