Characterization of Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe by Resonance Acoustic Spectroscopy

Abstract

Prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) is a composite pipe structure commonly used for high-pressure water transmission. If these pipes deteriorate, they can cause a water main break, which can cause extensive property damage and compromise the potable water system. Accordingly, there has been considerable interest in developing reliable nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques capable of identifying damaged pipes prior to rupture. In the current study, a series of finite-element and experimental studies are undertaken to establish the groundwork for an acoustic resonance–based NDE method capable of characterizing the earliest stage of deterioration in PCCP associated with damage to its outermost layer.