Advancements in FIV-based flow measurement: full-scale experimental and LES-SSI modeling approaches for buried pipelines

Flow Induced Vibration (FIV)-based measurement offers an economical, non-invasive, and readily implementable approach for monitoring pipeline flow rate and safety. Investigations into FIV-based flow measurement have, however, only been performed for above ground pipelines. The FIV characteristics of buried pipelines under various influence factors remain largely unexplored, potentially introducing significant errors in measurement outcomes. To address these gaps, this study conducts both full-scale experiments and numerical simulations of buried steel pipeline FIV. Experiments are performed characterizing FIV by varying Reynolds number (Re_d) and Depth of Cover (DOC) in proctor compacted soil. A Large-Eddy Simulation coupled with Soil-Structure Interaction (LES-SSI) modeling framework is used to simulate buried steel pipeline FIV. The LES-SSI model is validated through convergence tests and verified against both experimental and benchmark data. The study thoroughly investigates the relationship between FIV and various parameters. Subsequently, an optimal quantity equation for buried steel pipeline flow measurement is developed.