Non-linear finite element simulations of highly curved submarine pipelines

✍ Scribed by Kalliontzis, C.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 334 KB
• Volume: 14
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1069-8299
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-0887(199811)14:11<1067::aid-cnm210>3.0.co;2-p

✦ Synopsis

A non-linear ®nite element numerical procedure is adopted for predicting the bending stresses developed along highly curved submarine pipelines during the installation process from a laybarge towards an irregular sea ¯oor. The problem of partial seabed-pipeline and stinger-pipeline contact is tackled by means of a point iterative calculation approach. The geometric non-linearity embedded in the beam ¯exural theory enables major deformations of the submarine line structures to be accurately modelled. Numerical calculations tend to be demanding, especially when large dierences occur between the pipeline and seabed con®gurations. Three structural problems of practical signi®cance provide a suitable application platform for testing the eciency of the mathematical model. A Fortran subroutine implementing the fundamental procedures of the proposed numerical theory is included.