Objectives: Created in a partnership with PUC (Pontifical Catholic University) and INT (National Technology Institute), the objective of this project is to develop tools and a field work methodology needed to install extensometers  to fiber optic Bragg network (RBF) on the surface of pipelines buried during the construction. Meanwhile, possible solutions are studied for monitoring the displacement of cathodic protection in underground pipelines employing fiber optic extensometry (gage). Studies will also be developed for defining sensor density to optimize the ratio between system cost and reliability achieved with the proposed technique, aimed at monitoring soil parameters (soil inclination and pressure) and pipeline deformations resulting from inner pressure and flexion, or deformations of coatings caused by the cathodic displacement and/or the formation of corrosion products.

Expected Results: 

• Definition of sensor density needed to obtain a reliable visualization of the status of deformations in underground pipelines in the different conditions of soil and operations.
• Definition of types of the most appropriate extensometers for the different soil and operation conditions. Determination of the efficacy of the RBF extensometer model for detecting cathodic displacement in underground pipelines.
• Generation of documentation describing techniques and procedures used during project development.
• Installation of some extensometers in the already installed CTDUT pipeline and sensitivity study of its response to specific deformation conditions.
• Obtaining an estimated cost and economic feasibility of the technology.
• Testing of tools and procedures for installing extensometers during pipeline construction work. Installation of extensometers.