Universal prediction schemes for estimating flow-induced industrial pipeline noise and vibration

Abstract This paper addresses the issue of quantifying the internal noise levels/wall pressure fluctuations and external radiated nose from uninsulated industrial gas pipelines. The separate issues of transmission loss characteristics of pipeline acoustic lagging (porous layers and cladding) and structure-borne sound associated with cladding supports are not dealt with at this stage. Semi-empirical prediction schemes based upon (i) estimated vibration levels and radiation ratios, (ii) semi-empirical transmission loss models, and (iii) statistical energy analysis models, are presented and compared. Relative levels are quantified into absolute levels via non-dimensional internal wall pressure spectra. The first scheme requires prior knowledge of the pipe wall vibration levels either from measured or predicted values. The second and third schemes are ‘stand-alone’ schemes which do not require any experimental data other than the non-dimensional internal wall pressure spectra.