Estimation of the buried pipeline displacement using distributed fibre optic sensing: An experimental study

Abstract

Pipe displacement (bending) is one of the most prominent risks caused by the soil movements in the landslide areas. The lateral soil movement causes damages to the buried pipelines, which might explode due to leakage of flammable materials. Employing fibre optic sensors to monitor the buried pipes can maintain the integrity of piping systems and the surrounding environment. The fibre optic sensor has already demonstrated its capabilities to provide a continuous monitoring system for the structures. This paper aims to evaluate the buried pipeline displacement caused by the lateral soil movement. Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (BOTDA) is used to measure the strain values from the fibre optic cable. A small physical model is used to demonstrate the bending of High-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe under the ground movement. This paper concludes that the fibre optic sensor could be employed to evaluate the horizontal and vertical displacements of the buried pipeline.