Guided waves scattering by discontinuities near pipe bends

Abstract

Guided waves became in recent years an useful tool in nondestructive testing of pipes used in many industrial applications. The torsional and longitudinal waves in pipes are the main choice for integrity inspection. The first step is the computation of the dispersion curves, for straight pipes. Since most pipes have bends, the problem of guided modes in the toroidal segment remains of interest. Various methods have been applied to solve this problem. The most promising numerical method to obtain the dispersion curves for a torus is based on finite elements (FE), using a standing waves model. Based on these dispersion curves, transmissions of longitudinal and torsional waves through a bend were also investigated. The present paper presents the scattering process produced by geometrical discontinuities such as circumferential welds before and after a pipe bend. Longitudinal L(0,2) mode is sent along the straight pipe in FE simulations, toward the bend. Reflected and transmitted modal amplitudes are determined for frequencies of interest. The capability of detecting a defect close to one of the two welds is thus assessed. The modes transmitted past the bend are also characterized. Comparisons with results obtained by other researchers are used to validate the method.