Engineering Commons^™

An Acoustic-Based Approach For Condition Monitoring Of Pipes, Muhammad S. Khan, Turaj Ashuri, Mitchell Collins, Geoffrey Birkemeier, Emad Almohmmedali

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Polyvinyl chloride pipes are extensively used in municipal sewer systems. As the sewer system ages, polyvinyl chloride pipes become prone to developing cracks that can release toxic effluents into the environment. Traditionally, utility operators pass a close circuit television camera mounted on a guided vehicle through the pipe to monitor the defects. The video is observed by a trained operator who records the condition of the pipe. This arrangement has two major limitations. First, it is expensive due to complex set up. Second, if a pipe is blocked the guided vehicle cannot pass through its entire length. A more economical …