THE PIPES SOUND OFF

This article reviews acoustic emission technology that allows pipe owners to determine the condition of prestressed concrete cylinder pipes by listening to the prestressing wires as they break. The author describes the deterioration of several sections of a 13-year-old pipe at the Central Arizona Project, a $4 billion public work built to convey water 539 km (335 miles) from the Colorado River through the cities of Phoeniz, and Tucson, Arizona. Excavation revealed that the prestressing wires had corroded in a number of sections, and that the pipe might possibly fail. Engineers developed what has become known as acoustic emission technology. The engineers used a computer to capture the sounds and distinguish the energy of breaking wires from other noises, such as turbulence, vehicular traffic, and debris movement. The technology consists of hydrophones, a signal processor, and communication links. The operator can verify the event by replaying the electronic signature or listening to the sound live. Confirmed wire breaks are updated to a histogram that provides a visual indication of problem pipe sections. Problem pipes are excavated to verify the extent of the deterioration. By selectively rehabilitating the pipe sections the operators can extend the useful life of the pipe by many years.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/10480594
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Rasmussen, E
• Publication Date: 1997-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 52-53
• Serial:
  • Civil Engineering
  • Volume: 67
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0885-7024
  • Serial URL: http://www.pubs.asce.org/ceonline/newce/html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acoustic emission tests; Concrete pipe; Corrosion; Deterioration; Fracture mechanics; Histograms; Hydrophones; Maintenance; Piezoelectricity; Pipelines; Prestressed concrete; Remote sensing; Signal processing; Wear; Wire
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cylinders
• Geographic Terms: Arizona
• Old TRIS Terms: Pipe (Concrete); Pipeline maintenance
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Pipelines; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00739583
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 25 1997 12:00AM