This document summarizes a university project to monitor bending and buckling in long pipelines using strain gauges. A team of 4 students led by Jamshid Khan developed a frame to hold a 5ft PVC pipe and installed strain gauges to measure strain. Testing showed graphs of voltage readings over time from 4 strain gauges at 3 nodes, indicating tension and compression levels. The non-destructive testing technique allows examining pipeline health without damage. The project aims to detect pipeline damage early to improve safety and reduce ruptures.

1. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Monitoring Bending and Buckling of Long
Pipelines Through Strain Gauges
5th FYP Presentation
ME-2011
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2. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Group Members
• Jamshid Khan (GL)
• Hafeez Ullah
• Asad Jahangir
• Faisal Ziyad
Advisor
• Dr. Naseer Ahmed
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3. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Contents
• Introduction
• Aim
• Objectives
• Fabrication Work
• Material Used
• Types of Process
• Sub Assemblies
• General Assemblies
• Testing and Commissioning
• Conclusion
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4. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Introduction
• Pipeline system are widely used for distribution and transportation of
petroleum, natural gas, water and sewage.
• During their service life, the pipelines face many threats such as bending
and buckling.
• These damages occurs due to
Temperature change
Internal pressure
Ground movement.
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5. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Aim
• Monitoring of long pipes through strain gauges
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6. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Objectives
• To find the life time of pipes
• To rapidly detect damages in pipes
• To secure humans life due to the damage or leakage of gas in pipes
• To save power by using wireless network to detect specific leakage point
in real time.
• To reduce pipeline rupture in short interval of times by signal networks.
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7. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Fabrication Work
• In Fabrication work, the team
construct by combining or assembling diverse,
typically standardized parts
• In this project the fabrication involves
Supporting frame
Pipe supporter
Strain gauges installation
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8. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Material used
• Material used in frame manufacturing are
aluminum.
• The whole weight of frame is 12.6 kg.
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9. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Pipe material
• We have selected PVC material for pipe.
• Its length is 5 ft.
• Diameter is 40 mm.
• Life time is 30 years.
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10. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering 10
PVC Pipe Physical properties
Water absorption increase % 0.05
Coefficient of Linear Expansion
(in/in/°F)
2.9 x 10-5
Material Becomes Viscous 350°F
Maximum Service Temp. 140°F

11. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering 11
Aluminum Properties for Frame
Melting Point (°C) 660.2
Boiling Point (°C) 2480
Co-Efficient of Linear
Expansion (0-100°C)
(x10-6/°C)
23.
Modulus of Elasticity
(GPa)
68.3

12. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Supporter Material
12
Material Cast iron
Tensile strength 250 Mpa
Fatigue Resistance 110 MPa
Yield Strength (0.2%) 160 MPa

13. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Types of process
• Arc welding
• Fastening
• Strain gauge installation
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14. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Strain Gauge Installation
• Strain gauges are the device used to measure the
strain in an object.
• The gauges are attached to an object by suitable
adhesive.
• The resistance changes is commonly measured by
using wheat Stonebridge.
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15. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Continue…
• Strain gauge grid are made alloys of copper and
nickel.
• It can find unidirectional strain.
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16. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering 16

17. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Continue..
• Bond strain gauge to measuring site
• Drop of the adhesive, put the strain gauge on the
measuring site while lining up the center marks
• Press strain gauge
• Cover the strain gauge with the accessory
polyethylene sheet and press it over the sheet
with a thumb.
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18. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Continue…
• Complete bonding work
• Remove the polyethylene sheet and make
sure the strain gauge is securely bonded.
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19. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Continue..
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20. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Testing…
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21. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
NDT ?
• Method of finding defects in an object without
harming the object.
• If pipe had to be cut into pieces to be examined. It
would destroy their usefulness.
• Here in NDT, defects may be find before they
become dangerous.
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22. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
NDT Assessment
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23. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Software Assessment
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24. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Graphic indication of nodes
• In graph there are two type of value
Positive Value
Negative Value
• In some areas the positive/Negative value gives
indication about tension and compression of pipe.
• The Positive/Negative value deliver by the system are
per second.
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25. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Continue..
• This line show the disruption (Tension).
• Here the applied force is not uniform but variable
with time.
• If we restore its position, the value remain
constant.
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26. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Continue….
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27. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Continue..
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28. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Continue…
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Voltage
Time (Sec)

29. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Sub Assemblies
• Frame
• Supporter
• Central processing unit for analog data
• Strain Gauge
• Out put data on screen in form of graphics
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30. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Frame Parameter
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Length 42 in
Weight 12.6 Kg
height 32 in
Weight Bear 90 kg
Material used Aluminum 3031

31. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Supporter
31
Length 4 in
Height 1 ft.
Weight 2 kg
Thickness 3 mm

32. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Central Processing Unit
• In CPU the Data are collected in the form of
analog.
• The analog data are converted into digital.
• The data are process to over come noise and get
free-error data.
• Each terminal of Strain gauge are connected to +in
–in.
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33. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Strain gauge
• We will installed one strain gauge at center
position.
• Position of strain gauge.
• Strain Gauge parallel to the axis.
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34. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
General Assemblies
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frame
System
Pipe
Supporter
Data Acquistion
Strain Gauge

35. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Final testing
• The purpose of the test is to make a final review of
the Project.
• These value in the form of graphs which indicate
the strain at different position.
• There are three nodes while each node contain 4
strain gauges at different location.
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36. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering 36
02 Nov 2015
02 Nov 2015

37. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering 37
Node 1 Node 2 Node 3

38. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Node 1
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39. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering 39
-0.03
-0.02
-0.01
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05VoltageV
Time (Sec)
Series1 Series2 Series3 Series4

40. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering 40
4:10:50 4:10:50 4:10:51 4:10:51 4:10:52 4:10:52 4:10:53 4:10:53 4:10:54 4:10:54 4:10:55 4:10:55 4:10:56 4:10:56 4:10:57 4:10:57 4:10:58 4:10:58 4:10:59
Series1 0.01219 0.01219 0.01219 0.01219 0.01229 0.01239 0.01229 0.01239 0.01239 0.01249 0.01249 0.01259 0.01259 0.01259 0.01269 0.01259 0.01269 0.01259 0.01279
Series2 0.04418 -0.0068 -0.0068 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0066 -0.0065 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0066
Series3 -0.0184 -0.0186 -0.0186 -0.0186 -0.0187 -0.0187 -0.0187 -0.0188 -0.0187 -0.0188 -0.0188 -0.0188 -0.0187 -0.0187 -0.0187 -0.0188 -0.0188 -0.0188 -0.0188
Series4 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0073 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0073 -0.0074 -0.0073 -0.0074 -0.0073 -0.0073 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0074
-0.03
-0.02
-0.01
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
Voltage Node 1

41. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
4:10:50 4:10:50 4:10:51 4:10:51 4:10:52 4:10:52 4:10:53 4:10:53 4:10:54 4:10:54 4:10:55 4:10:55 4:10:56 4:10:56 4:10:57 4:10:57 4:10:58 4:10:58 4:10:59
Series1 0.01219 0.01219 0.01219 0.01219 0.01229 0.01239 0.01229 0.01239 0.01239 0.01249 0.01249 0.01259 0.01259 0.01259 0.01269 0.01259 0.01269 0.01259 0.01279
Series2 0.04418 -0.0068 -0.0068 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0066 -0.0065 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0067 -0.0066
Series3 -0.0184 -0.0186 -0.0186 -0.0186 -0.0187 -0.0187 -0.0187 -0.0188 -0.0187 -0.0188 -0.0188 -0.0188 -0.0187 -0.0187 -0.0187 -0.0188 -0.0188 -0.0188 -0.0188
Series4 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0073 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0073 -0.0074 -0.0073 -0.0074 -0.0073 -0.0073 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0074 -0.0074
-0.03
-0.02
-0.01
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
Voltage Node 1
41
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
Strain(mm)
Time (Sec)
Series1

42. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering 42
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6Voltage
Time(Sec)
Series1 Series2 Series3 Series4

43. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering 43
4:10:
50
4:10:
50
4:10:
51
4:10:
51
4:10:
52
4:10:
52
4:10:
53
4:10:
53
4:10:
54
4:10:
54
4:10:
55
4:10:
55
4:10:
56
4:10:
56
4:10:
57
4:10:
57
4:10:
58
4:10:
58
4:10:
59
4:10:
59
4:11:
00
4:11:
00
4:11:
01
4:11:
01
4:11:
02
4:11:
02
4:11:
03
4:11:
03
4:11:
04
4:11:
04
4:11:
05
4:11:
05
Series1 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.55
Series2 0.03 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.03
Series3 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1
Series4 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
Voltage
Time (Sec)
Series1
Series2
Series3
Series4

44. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering 44
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
Voltage
Time (Sec)
Series1
Series2
Series3
Series4
-1.2
-1
-0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0
Strain(mm)
Time

45. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Conclusion
• The proposed technique is a type of nondestructive
tests that allows the examination of pipeline
structural health without causing any damage to
the material.
• The gathered information provide valuable
information regarding bending, stretching and
contraction.
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46. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Thank You
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47. CECOS University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Any Question ?
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