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Description
Detecting small, quiet leaks in viscoelastic water pipes (e.g. polyethylene, polyvinylchloride) using acoustic techniques is challenging due to the high rate of sound attenuation in these pipes and presence of background noise. This research explores monitoring the radial acoustic pressure gradient within the water column as a novel method of detecting small leaks in water distribution pipes. Time-dependant CFD simulations are carried out to predict the sound pressure gradient generated in the vicinity of a leak. A bespoke full-scale laboratory facility with realistic pipe sections is developed and used to verify the proposed method. The resilience of the approach to interference from bulk turbulent flow is explored. This research supports the development of novel micromachine (MEMS) hydroacoustic sensors for leak detection to work with modern plastic pipe materials.