New Laboratory Test Facility Developed to Investigate the Leak-Before-Break Window of Large-Diameter Cast Iron Water Pipes
Publication: Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice
Volume 9, Issue 3
Abstract
It was reported that the leak-before-break (LBB) concept has potential merit for use as a tool for large-diameter pipe failure prevention in the water industry. For this purpose, a detailed understanding of pipe failure mechanisms and the LBB time window between leak initiation and failure is essential. Controlled laboratory experiments can provide valuable information to address this research question. Therefore, this paper presents a new fully automated laboratory test facility that was developed to investigate the time window between leak initiation and final burst (during fatigue crack growth with variable internal loading including pressure transients) in large-diameter cast iron water pipe. The new setup will be used to validate the application of LBB and to quantify the LBB time window for proactive pipe monitoring for failure prevention. A full-scale pipe test conducted using the new test facility is presented to demonstrate the capability of the new test facility.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Advanced Condition Assessment and Pipe Failure Prediction (ACAPFP) Project funded by Sydney Water Corporation, UK Water Industry Research Ltd., Water Research Foundation in the United States, Water Corporation (Western Australia), City West Water, Melbourne Water, South Australia Water Corporation, South East Water Ltd., Hunter Water Corporation, Queensland Urban Utilities, and Yarra Valley Water.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice
Volume 9 • Issue 3 • August 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 23, 2017
Accepted: Feb 23, 2018
Published online: May 31, 2018
Published in print: Aug 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Oct 31, 2018
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