A simple vibration test can help oil and gas companies locate rust or cracks in pipelines more quickly and cheaply than conventional imaging techniques, according to a new study by the University of British Columbia.

Hadi Mohammadi, assistant professor of engineering at the University of British Columbia, developed the pipeline "tap test" after first evaluating its validity on human bones. Image credit: UBC.Research found that imperfections in above-ground pipelines could be found by attaching small machines to the side of a pipe that tap and measure the resulting vibrations—known as modal analysis—against those predicted by computer models.

“After developing the mathematical platform and entering it into a computer, we can predict what the level of vibration should be if the pipeline that is being tapped is free of imperfections,” says Hadi Mohammadi, assistant professor of engineering. “When I conducted the tap test on actual pipeline material and looked at the resulting patterns of vibrations, weak points could quickly be identified."

Mohammadi, whose research area focuses on bio-engineering, began employing his “tap test” on pipeline material after first evaluating its validity on human bones. The test had proven useful in identifying areas of deficient bone density, which could be helpful in identifying conditions such as osteoporosis.