Non-stationary signals are frequently encountered in a variety of engineering fields. The inability of conventional Fourier analysis to preserve the time dependence and describe the evolutionary spectral characteristics of non-stationary processes requires tools which allow time and frequency localization beyond customary Fourier analysis. The spectral analysis of non-stationary signals cannot describe the local transient features due to averaging over the duration of the signal [1]. The Fourier Transform (FT) and the short time Fourier transform (STFT) have been often used to measure transient phenomena. These techniques yield good information on the frequency content of the transient, but the time at which a particular disturbance in the signal occurred is lost [2, 3]. Wavelets are relatively new analysis tools that are widely being used in signal analysis. In wavelet analysis, the transients are decomposed into a series of wavelet components, each of which is a time-domain signal that covers a specific octave band of frequency. Wavelets do a very good job in detecting the time of the signal, but they give the frequency information in terms of frequency band regions or scales[4]. The main objective of this paper is to use the wavelet transform for analysis of the pressure fluctuations occurred in the bottom-outlet of Kamal-Saleh Dam. The "Kamalsaleh Dam" is located on the "Tire River" in Iran, near the Arak city. The Bottom Outlet of the dam is equipped with service gate and emergency gate. A hydraulic model test is conducted to investigate the dynamic behavior of the service gate of the outlet. The results of the calculations based on the wavelet transform is then compared with those obtained using the traditional Fast Fourier Transform.
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