Acoustic Data from Water Pipe Leak Experiments at University of Sheffield

University of Sheffield researchers collected acoustic data to measure leak signal amplitude and attenuation in water pipes. The dataset contains calibrated pipe wall acceleration spectra from experiments using a 60+ meter MDPE pipe loop under controlled pressure, with leaks of various sizes and shapes. The data was generated by Mohammad Reza Shekofteh and last updated in May 2026.

Use Cases

• Training leak detection models based on calibrated pipe wall acceleration spectra.
• Analyzing signal attenuation as a function of distance from a leak source.
• Comparing acoustic signatures generated by different leak shapes and sizes, including circular holes and slits.
• Benchmarking sensor performance for pipe vibration measurements in a controlled laboratory environment.

Strengths

• Data was collected using high-sensitivity, calibrated seismic accelerometers (Model 393B12).
• Experiments used a controlled hydraulic pressure system with a maximum of approximately 4.2 bar.
• Tests covered a range of leak geometries, including circular nozzles (1-3 mm) and longitudinal/transverse slits.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is from a specific laboratory setup using PE80 pipe, which may not be fully representative of all field conditions.

Provenance

Source

Contaminant Ingress into Distribution systems (CID) laboratory, University of Sheffield.

Collection Method

Laboratory experiments measuring pipe wall vibrations with accelerometers on a 60+ meter MDPE pipe loop.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-11 09:48:48; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Laboratory-based (University of Sheffield, UK).