Efficient Pipeline Guided-Wave Modeling via WFE Dispersion and Route-Based Propagation Including Spiral Paths

Abstract

Reliable guided-wave monitoring of pipelines requires models that are both computationally efficient and capable of capturing the main physical propagation mechanisms in cylindrical waveguides. In thin-walled large-diameter pipes, guided waves propagate locally in a plate-like manner while the cylindrical topology creates multiple deterministic surface-geodesic routes between actuator and sensor locations. Besides the direct route, spiral routes wrapping around the circumference can generate distinct received wave packets, and additional packets arise from reflections at pipe boundaries and local discontinuities. This paper presents a semi-analytical hybrid framework for pipeline guided waves that combines Wave Finite Element (WFE) dispersion extraction with a route-based long-range propagation engine. The model explicitly accounts for direct and spiral propagation routes as well as boundary-reflected contributions. Validation is performed in two steps. First, model predictions are compared to full 3D transient finite element simulations on a steel pipe, assessing arrival times, wave-packet structure, and route-dependent contributions. Second, experimental measurements on a steel pipe are used to identify and interpret the received wave packets. The results demonstrate that the proposed semi-analytical model captures the dominant wave packets observed in 3D FE and experiments, while requiring significantly lower computational effort than full transient simulation. The validated framework provides a foundation for subsequent model-assisted monitoring and data-driven localization studies in realistic pipeline environments.