Products — Structural Health Monitoring

Ducto

Structural Health Monitoring applied to pipelines: circumferential deformation, longitudinal stress, ovalization and angular movements, continuously and in real time, on external or buried pipes.

  • Deformation
  • Temperature
  • Tilt
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A Ducto acquisition unit with antenna, applied to a large-diameter pipe via a Smart Skin Sensor strip wrapping its circumference; a test rig in the background.

Up to 3

Configurable strain sensors per measurement point

Circumferential and longitudinal always included; ovalization added on request for buried pipes

10 %

Maximum measuring strain range

Thermoplastic version

6

Compatible pipe materials

Cast iron, ductile iron, steel, concrete, FRP/GRP, PVC

The system

Ducto applies Smart Skin Sensor technology to pipelines, continuously and in real time, on above-ground or buried pipes. Three deformation sensors, a temperature sensor and a leak-detection module work together in a single installation, returning a complete picture of the pipeline's health. The system is turn-key, from sensor to software, and requires no scheduled maintenance.

Three sensors, one geometry

Three deformation sensors work in a single star geometry: the first wraps the pipe's circumference and measures circumferential deformation, the most direct signal of the pipeline's health; the second, at the apical position, detects ovalization by comparison; the third, along the top generatrix, measures longitudinal stress. An integrated temperature sensor compensates the measurements and flags any water infiltration during floods or heavy rainfall.

Two versions, according to the pipe material

The sensor matrix, thermoset or thermoplastic, is chosen based on the pipe material. The thermoset version suits cast iron, steel and concrete; the thermoplastic version, with a wider measuring range, suits PVC and FRP / GRP, materials that work with larger deformations.

Leak detection

An integrated sound-level sensor analyses the pipe's acoustic signals, listening during the night to identify noises with patterns consistent with a leak. Dedicated algorithms, calibrated to the pipe material, make it possible to estimate the leak's position and intensity from its very onset.

01 / The two sensor versions

Same system, same platform: the Smart Skin Sensor matrix changes, and with it the measurable strain range.

Thermoset version

3% Measuring Strain Range

Ducto Thermoset

Linear behavior, suited to rigid pipes that work with limited deformations.

  • Cast iron
  • Ductile iron
  • Steel
  • Concrete
  • Linear behavior verified in laboratory within the 3% measuring range
  • Applicable to above-ground or buried pipes

Thermoplastic version

10% Measuring Strain Range

Ducto Thermoplastic

The version for large deformations: indispensable on elastic materials such as PVC, yet applicable to any type of pipe.

  • Cast iron
  • Ductile iron
  • Steel
  • Concrete
  • FRP / GRP
  • PVC
  • Elongation up to 10%, required for elastic materials such as PVC
  • Compatible with all pipe materials, rigid or flexible

02 / The three-sensor geometry

The circumferential-deformation sensor (Sensor 1) and the longitudinal-stress sensor (Sensor 3) are always present, whatever the installation type. The ovalisation sensor (Sensor 2) is specific to buried pipes and is added on request.

  • Sensor 1

    Circumferential deformation

    Wraps the circumference of the pipe

  • Sensor 2

    Ovalisation

    At the apical position, compared with Sensor 1; added on request for buried pipes

  • Sensor 3

    Longitudinal stress

    Along the top generatrix of the pipe

03 / Monitored quantities

  • Deformation Three-directional: circumferential, longitudinal and ovalization
  • Temperature Compensates the measurements and flags water infiltration during intense weather events
  • Angular movements Displacements and misalignments at joints: an early sign of pull-out risk

04 / Installation and materials

  • Cast iron
  • Ductile iron
  • Steel
  • FRP / GRP
  • PVC
  • Concrete

05 / Data Transmission and Power

  1. Sensor → electronics Direct wiring between the sensors and the acquisition unit, along the pipe.
  2. Electronics → gateway Two possible modes. Via cable, or wireless with an oversized battery pack paired with a slotted cable laid along the pipe, which acts as a distributed antenna and picks up the LoRaWAN signal, forwarding it to the gateway: the solution for transmission in buried or underwater environments.
  3. Gateway → server / cloud Data is accessible online from various devices. The management software includes alert and alarm configuration.

The system architecture is open and allows the easy integration of third-party sensors, for example for monitoring water quantity or quality.

06 / Technical specifications

Deformation sensor

Type
Smart Skin Sensor, composite-material laminate with carbon fibres and nanotubes
Measurement
Three-directional: circumferential deformation, ovalisation, longitudinal stress
Characteristics
Thin, impact-resistant, waterproof, applicable to almost any substrate
Measuring range
3% (thermoset version: cast iron, steel, concrete) or 10% (thermoplastic version: PVC, FRP / GRP)

Electronics and transmission

Transmission
LoRaWAN (Semtech SX1276 transceiver)NB-IoTWirelessBLERS485
Third-party sensor inputs
3 analog inputs1 1-Wire bus1 RS485

Leak detection

Principle
Integrated sound-level sensor, acoustic signal analysis
Algorithms
Dedicated per pipe material (cast iron, FRP, steel, etc.)
Output
Leak position and intensity from onset

07 / Typical applications

  • Buried and above-ground water pipelines
  • Hydroelectric penstocks
  • Oil & Gas pipelines
  • Water adduction and distribution networks

Who it is for

  • Water utility operators
  • Hydroelectric plant operators
  • Oil & Gas operators
  • Engineering and diagnostics firms

Patents Proprietary, multi-patented technology; the list of titles is available on request

Let's talk about your monitoring project

Tell us about the structure to monitor: we will propose the best-suited configuration.

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