Cryogenic pipelines to replace trestle for liquefied gas transfer terminals. This project aims to develop geotechnical design tools, software, and publish design guidelines, for engineers to lay and keep cryogenic pipelines stable on the seabed. Transferring liquefied natural gas between floating tankers and onshore plants conventionally relies on a pipeline on a trestle system. As an alternative, novel subsea cryogenic pipelines are being considered. By ensuring the stability of subsea cryogeni ....Cryogenic pipelines to replace trestle for liquefied gas transfer terminals. This project aims to develop geotechnical design tools, software, and publish design guidelines, for engineers to lay and keep cryogenic pipelines stable on the seabed. Transferring liquefied natural gas between floating tankers and onshore plants conventionally relies on a pipeline on a trestle system. As an alternative, novel subsea cryogenic pipelines are being considered. By ensuring the stability of subsea cryogenic pipelines laid directly on the seabed, this project will provide significant benefits to Australia’s liquefied natural gas trade by unlocking substantial cost savings, and making this key export industry more competitive.Read moreRead less
Laboratory and Field Testing of a Leak Detection Technique Using Fluid Transients. A major problem in fluid pipelines and pipe networks is undetected leakage. This research collaboration will develop new approaches that will enable systematic leak detection using advanced numerical modelling and inverse techniques with the ultimate goal of implementing these leak detection methods in practice. In addition to the numerical model development, an extensive series of laboratory experiments will be u ....Laboratory and Field Testing of a Leak Detection Technique Using Fluid Transients. A major problem in fluid pipelines and pipe networks is undetected leakage. This research collaboration will develop new approaches that will enable systematic leak detection using advanced numerical modelling and inverse techniques with the ultimate goal of implementing these leak detection methods in practice. In addition to the numerical model development, an extensive series of laboratory experiments will be undertaken by researchers from both universities using the laboratory facilities in Adelaide to verify and extend the new approaches. The researchers will conduct similar experiments under field conditions on much larger pipe systems in Toronto and generally in Canada.Read moreRead less
Frequency Domain Micro-Reflection Processing for Pipe Condition Assessment. Over the coming years many millions of dollars will be spent on upgrading deteriorated pipeline infrastructure that is part of water distribution systems all over Australia. Determining the condition of buried pipes is very difficult and expensive. This research will solve that problem. We will develop powerful numerical methods for non-invasive pipe condition assessment. Small controlled transients will be input by a ....Frequency Domain Micro-Reflection Processing for Pipe Condition Assessment. Over the coming years many millions of dollars will be spent on upgrading deteriorated pipeline infrastructure that is part of water distribution systems all over Australia. Determining the condition of buried pipes is very difficult and expensive. This research will solve that problem. We will develop powerful numerical methods for non-invasive pipe condition assessment. Small controlled transients will be input by a specially designed signal generation device that can determine the condition of the inside of the pipe. These new techniques will be cost-effective, accurate and able to cover very long distances of pipe. Water authorities will then be able to quickly decide which sections of pipe require further investigation.Read moreRead less
Micro-reflections for pipe condition assessment in water networks. Maintaining highly reliable water supply pipeline infrastructure for cities, towns and in rural Australia is extremely important. Our research will develop new non-invasive condition assessment techniques. Transient events will be used to create pressure waves that travel up and down a pipe. Sophisticated analysis of the micro-reflections in the measured pressure traces will be the heart of the new techniques. Water utility manag ....Micro-reflections for pipe condition assessment in water networks. Maintaining highly reliable water supply pipeline infrastructure for cities, towns and in rural Australia is extremely important. Our research will develop new non-invasive condition assessment techniques. Transient events will be used to create pressure waves that travel up and down a pipe. Sophisticated analysis of the micro-reflections in the measured pressure traces will be the heart of the new techniques. Water utility managers will be able to make a detailed assessment of the interior pipe wall to determine if significant corrosion or deterioration of the cement mortar lining has occurred. Rehabilitation strategies can then be determined. These new techniques will replace camera inspections that are extremely invasive and expensive.Read moreRead less
A new approach to systematic blockage detection and mapping in water distribution systems. Techniques to non-destructively probe and map features are common in medicine (MRI, Ultrasound, X-rays) and in other areas such as geophysics. No analogous techniques exist for water distribution systems that are an integral part of society's infrastructure. The location and mapping of blockages using pressure pulses is the focus of this research and our industry partner wants to be the first to develop ....A new approach to systematic blockage detection and mapping in water distribution systems. Techniques to non-destructively probe and map features are common in medicine (MRI, Ultrasound, X-rays) and in other areas such as geophysics. No analogous techniques exist for water distribution systems that are an integral part of society's infrastructure. The location and mapping of blockages using pressure pulses is the focus of this research and our industry partner wants to be the first to develop this technology. Experimental verification of the technique will be carried out in laboratory and field tests. The new methodology will have a significant economic impact with major savings of operation and maintenance costs for water networks worldwide.Read moreRead less
Large-scale geotechnical analysis of new and aged pipeline infrastructure. This project aims to develop novel computational methods for predicting failure rates in geographically distributed pipeline networks affected by ground movements, one of the main triggers of bursts and leakages in buried pipe infrastructure. The project will be based on a blend of experimental work and development of simulation tools to quantify the coupled effects of pipe deterioration, poor backfilling and ground movem ....Large-scale geotechnical analysis of new and aged pipeline infrastructure. This project aims to develop novel computational methods for predicting failure rates in geographically distributed pipeline networks affected by ground movements, one of the main triggers of bursts and leakages in buried pipe infrastructure. The project will be based on a blend of experimental work and development of simulation tools to quantify the coupled effects of pipe deterioration, poor backfilling and ground movements in aged and new pipelines. The results will feed towards the formulation of a framework for the large-scale stress analysis of segmented and continuous pipes, capable of using as input high-resolution geospatial observations and predictions of ground movements.Read moreRead less
Unsaturated soil-structure interaction with emphasis on buried pipelines. Buried pipeline networks is the most common mode of transporting and distributing water, oil and gas resources and pipeline failures may have a major socioeconomic and environmental impact. The goal is to develop a framework for describing the mechanisms underlying soil-pipe interaction, aiming to reduce the failure risk of pipes affected by geohazards. The project aims to model the response of pipelines in the laboratory, ....Unsaturated soil-structure interaction with emphasis on buried pipelines. Buried pipeline networks is the most common mode of transporting and distributing water, oil and gas resources and pipeline failures may have a major socioeconomic and environmental impact. The goal is to develop a framework for describing the mechanisms underlying soil-pipe interaction, aiming to reduce the failure risk of pipes affected by geohazards. The project aims to model the response of pipelines in the laboratory, using a new custom-built apparatus. Experimental results are expected to provide insight for developing a theoretical model to quantify the effect of soil moisture on pipe integrity, and propose design formulas. A general framework is intended to be developed for handling various unsaturated soil-structure interaction problems in geotechnical engineering.Read moreRead less
Development of fuel storage tanks with frangible roofs to resist accidental explosion load. This project aims to study the effects of accidental explosions on industry storage tanks and develop safer and economic designs of tank structures to protect against explosion loads. The outcomes of the project will lead to better tank structures and minimise the damage and loss should an accidental explosion occur.
Beyond the limits of corrosion detection in inaccessible areas. The project will develop a new technology for medium-range corrosion mapping in inaccessible areas of infrastructure. This will overcome the limitations of existing corrosion inspection techniques for corrosion inspection at inaccessible areas. The project will create a new concept and generate new knowledge on accurate corrosion mapping in inaccessible areas. The expected outcomes are significant improvements in the capability and ....Beyond the limits of corrosion detection in inaccessible areas. The project will develop a new technology for medium-range corrosion mapping in inaccessible areas of infrastructure. This will overcome the limitations of existing corrosion inspection techniques for corrosion inspection at inaccessible areas. The project will create a new concept and generate new knowledge on accurate corrosion mapping in inaccessible areas. The expected outcomes are significant improvements in the capability and practicability over existing corrosion inspection technologies adopted by industry for a wide range of infrastructure, in particular the Oil and Gas, Mining, Energy and Water infrastructure, as well as improving the reliability and cost-efficiency of the corrosion inspection.Read moreRead less