Pipelines used in oil and gas, as well as in chemical and nuclear industries are joined together by mechanical (bolted), welded or adhesively bonded joints. The integrity of the joints present in such systems is very critical, since their failure could result in devastating economical and environmental ramifications. Therefore, structural health monitoring (SHM) of such joints is of critical and paramount importance. One of the recent advances in SHM has been the development of vibration-based methods. Significant efforts have been expended in recent years in developing techniques that can reliably detect damage in structures using various vibration-based methods. Nonetheless, research in this area has demonstrated that most vibration-based techniques are mainly suitable for detecting global damage (those primarily affecting the global dynamics of the system), and cannot detect local damage (such as cracks in joints or bolt loosening.)
A new and robust vibration-based damage detection technique was recently developed by the applicant, for which a provisional patent was filed for. The method uses the vibration signature of a given structure (at the healthy and damage states), processes the signals by the Empirical Mode Decomposition method, and produces a so-called "Energy Damage Index", by which the existence and extent of damage can be quantified. The method has been shown to be capable of detecting local damage as well as small flaws (e.g., cracks), though the number of trails has been somewhat limited. The proposed technique is at a stage that is about to be recognized as an effective means for SHM of oil and gas infrastructures; however, the extent of the capability of the technique, its robustness and accuracy require further investigations, before it can be considered for use in oil and gas and other pertinent industries, and be actually commercialized.
Funding is therefore sought for further proof testing of the developed technique, as well as improving its accuracy, reliability and consistency, and improving its user-friendly aspect.