Analysis of wave propagation in fluid-filled viscoelastic pipes

This paper describes the investigation of the propagation wave speed and wave attenuation in viscoelastic fluid-filled pipes. Relatively predictable for metal pipes, these are largely unknown for plastic pipes, since they depend on the pipe wall properties. Wave number measurements, encompassing both wave speed and wave attenuation, were carried out on different water-filled plastic pipes using three hydrophones. The frequency-dependent wave speed and attenuation were calculated from the transfer function between three pressure measurements. Experimental results for different pipe wall materials, particularly those with applications in water supply installations, are presented. The purpose of this paper is to present a method of analysis in the frequency domain that can be used to determine the acoustical properties of fluid-filled plastic pipes.