The Soga Research Group secured funding from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to assess the feasibility of a Distributed Fiber Optic Strain Measurement System for long-term monitoring of buried gas pipelines at risk of ground deformation due to faults and landslides. The project concluded with a final report submitted to PHMSA in August 2024. Six key tasks were completed, including design, laboratory testing, field deployment, data analysis, numerical simulation, and the development of a commercialization plan.
A four-point bending test was conducted in Texas to validate the method of attaching fiber optic sensors to steel pipelines. The system was then implemented on a major PG&E steel pipeline that transports natural gas through fault-prone regions, including the Calaveras Fault and landslide zones near Gilroy, CA. Three 400-foot-long strain cables were securely attached to the pipeline at various locations, including an elbow section. Monthly monitoring began in August 2023 to assess the integrity of the pipeline. Finite element analyses were performed for both the laboratory tests and field deployment.
