Utilizing Wavelet Transforms for Analysis of Transmission Characteristics of Water-Hammer Vibration Waves in Pipelines Installed in Soil, Water, or Air Environments

Abstract

Pipeline transportation is one of the major methods of transportation, widely used in various industries. Water hammer, a common vibration phenomenon in pipeline transport, has shown promising results in detecting leaks, blockages, and defects in pipelines. This study focuses on several aspects: (1) the vibration characteristics of pipeline water-hammer waves in air, water, and soil environments; (2) the vibration characteristics of pipeline water hammer in soil (sand and clay) with different collapse lengths; and (3) the use of wavelet transforms to analyze vibration signals under engineering conditions, assuming that the transmission characteristics of pipeline water-hammer waves are sensitive to the surrounding environment. The simulated water-hammer model was found to be approximately 90% accurate compared to the classical water-hammer formula, and was combined with the COMSOL simulation model and experimental verification. The experiment found that the attenuation rate of pipeline water-hammer waves in clay and water environments was 24% and 29%, respectively. Furthermore, under engineering conditions, the collapse length of pipelines in clay environments was more sensitive than in sand environments, which was consistent with the theoretical analysis and simulation results. These findings were further studied and summarized using wavelet analysis, highlighting their accuracy and applicability in the field of water-hammer detection.