Prediction of Burst in Flexible Pipes

Author(s):  
Alfredo Gay Neto ◽  
Clóvis de Arruda Martins ◽  
Celso Pupo Pesce ◽  
Christiano Odir C. Meirelles ◽  
Eduardo Ribeiro Malta ◽  
...  

Usually when a large internal fluid pressure acts on the inner walls of flexible pipes, the carcass layer is not loaded, as the first internal pressure resistance is given by the internal polymeric layer that transmits almost all the loading to the metallic pressure armor layer. The last one must be designed to ensure that the flexible pipe will not fail when loaded by a defined value of internal pressure. This paper presents three different numerical models and an analytical nonlinear model for determining the maximum internal pressure loading withstood by a flexible pipe without burst. The first of the numerical models is a ring approximation for the helically rolled pressure layer, considering its actual cross section profile. The second one is a full model for the same structure, considering the pressure layer laying angle and the cross section as built. The last numerical model is a two-dimensional (2D) simplified version, considering the pressure layer as an equivalent ring. The first two numerical models consider contact nonlinearities and a nonlinear elastic-plastic material model for the pressure layer. The analytical model considers the pressure armor layer as an equivalent ring, taking into account geometrical and material nonlinear behaviors. Assumptions and results for each model are compared and discussed. The failure event and the corresponding stress state are commented.

Author(s):  
Alfredo Gay Neto ◽  
Clo´vis de Arruda Martins ◽  
Celso Pupo Pesce ◽  
Christiano Odir C. Meirelles ◽  
Eduardo Ribeiro Malta ◽  
...  

Usually, when a large internal fluid pressure acts on the inner walls of flexible pipes, the carcass layer is not loaded as the first internal pressure resistance is given by the internal polymeric layer. The internal polymeric layer transmits almost all that loading to the metallic pressure resistant layer, or pressure armor layer. This layer must then be designed to ensure that the flexible pipe will not fail when loaded by a defined value of internal pressure. The present paper presents three different numerical models and one simple analytical model for determining the maximum internal pressure loading for a flexible pipe. The aim is to avoid pipe burst. The first numerical model is a ring approximation for the helically rolled pressure layer, considering its cross section as built. A second one is a full model for the same structure, considering the pressure layer laying angle and the cross section as built. The third numerical model is a 2D simplified version, considering the pressure layer as an equivalent ring. The first two numerical models consider contact nonlinearities and a nonlinear elastic-plastic material model for the pressure layer. The failure event and the corresponding stress state are discussed. Assumptions for each model are compared and discussed, with comparative results.


Author(s):  
Victor Pinheiro Pupo Nogueira ◽  
Theodoro Antoun Netto

Offshore oil and gas production worldwide constantly moves to deeper water with increasing flexible pipe operational severity. Failure mechanisms, i.e., sequences of events which may lead to failure, are nowadays more likely to happen. Therefore, it is important to develop reliable numerical tools that can be used in the design stages or during service-life to assess the structural integrity of pipes under specific operational conditions. This work presents a methodology to develop simple finite element models capable to reproduce the behavior of structural layers of flexible pipes under hydrostatic pressure up to the onset of collapse. The models use beam elements and include contact between layers, nonlinear kinematics and material behavior. Different configurations were analyzed: carcass-only, and carcass plus pressure armor with dry and wet annular. The dependability of the numerical models is assessed in light of experimental tests on flexible pipes with 4 and 8 inch nominal internal diameters. Relevant geometric parameters and material properties of each specimen were measured and subsequently used in the models to reproduce the physical experiments. The metallic inner carcass and pressure armor layer manufacturing processes cause a high degree of stress-induced material anisotropy. Due to the inherent difficulty to determine the non-homogeneous elastic-plastic material behavior of the wires’ cross-sections, a novel alternative method was used to estimate their average stress-strain curves up to moderate strains (2%). Good correlation was obtained between experimental and numerical results. The applied methodology proved to be simple and yet efficient and reliable for the estimation of the collapse pressure of flexible pipes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Renato M. de Sousa ◽  
Marcelo K. Protasio ◽  
Luís Volnei S. Sagrilo ◽  
Djalene Maria Rocha

Abstract The hydrostatic collapse strength of a flexible pipe is largely dependent on the ability of its carcass and/or pressure armor to resist radial loading and, therefore, its prediction involves an adequate modeling of these layers. Hence, initially, this work proposes a set of equations to estimate equivalent mechanical properties for these layers, which allows their modeling as equivalent orthotropic cylinders. Particularly, equations to predict the equivalent ring bend stiffness are obtained by simulating several two-point static ring tests with a three-dimensional finite element (FE) model based on beam elements and using these results to form datasets that are analyzed with a symbolic regression (SR) tool. The results of these analyses are the closed-form equations that best fit the provided datasets. After that, these equations are used in conjunction with a three-dimensional shell FE model (FEM) and a previously presented analytical model to study the bisymmetric hydrostatic collapse mechanism of flexible pipes. The predictions of these models agreed well with the collapse pressures obtained with numerical models and in experimental tests thus indicating the potential use of this approach in the design of flexible pipes.


2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J Hardy ◽  
M. K Pipelzadeh ◽  
A. R Gowhari-Anaraki

This paper discusses the behaviour of hollow tubes with axisymmetric internal projections subjected to combined axial and internal pressure loading. Predictions from an extensive elastic and elastic-plastic finite element analysis are presented for a typical geometry and a range of loading combinations, using a simplified bilinear elastic-perfectly plastic material model. The axial loading case, previously analysed, is extended to cover the additional effect of internal pressure. All the predicted stress and strain data are found to depend on the applied loading conditions. The results are normalized with respect to material properties and can therefore be applied to geometrically similar components made from other materials, which can be represented by the same material models.


Author(s):  
Tatiana Vargas-Londoño ◽  
José Renato M. de Sousa ◽  
Carlos Magluta ◽  
Ney Roitman

Due to its compound cross-section, the prediction of the structural response of flexible pipes to loads such as their self-weight, internal and external pressure, movements imposed by the floating system and environmental loads such as currents, waves and wind is quite complex. All these loads generate stresses and strains in the cross section of the pipe that have to be properly evaluated in order to ensure integrity of the line. Research has been done on the local behavior of flexible pipes under combined axisymmetric loads as well as under bending loads. However, there is a lack of research combining both axisymmetric and bending loads, as also in the study of the strains in the tensile amour layers of the pipes, aspects which are important for the calibration of theoretical models to predict such behavior. Based on that, this study aims to evaluate the local behavior of flexible pipes under combinations of axisymmetric (tension, and internal pressure) and bending loads via a series of experimental tests in a 9.13″ I.D pipe. In the experimental tests, the behavior of the pipe was studied for three load combinations: i) bending combined with tension; ii) bending combined with internal pressure; and iii) bending combined with tension and internal pressure. Based on these tests, the authors obtained the strains in the tensile armor layer, axial elongation due to tension, axial reaction forces due to internal pressure, and deflection due to bending. These measurements were used to calibrate a theoretical model devoted to simulate the pipe’s response, getting accurate results for stiffness and stresses of the pipe in each scenario.


2015 ◽  
Vol 769 ◽  
pp. 331-335
Author(s):  
Jakub Vasek ◽  
Oldrich Sucharda

The paper compares the numerical models of and experiments with a beam. The purpose is to evaluate the nonlinear material model of a steel structure. The steel is modelled as an ideal elastic-plastic material. The FEM and eight-node isoparametric finite elements are considered in the analysis. The 3D calculations use different material constants and several approaches are being tested in order to create the computational models. The calculations are performed in the software application developed by our university.


Author(s):  
Dag Fergestad ◽  
Frank Klæbo ◽  
Jan Muren ◽  
Pål Hylland ◽  
Tom Are Grøv ◽  
...  

This paper discusses the structural challenges associated with high axial temperature gradients and the corresponding internal cross section forces. A representative flexible pipe section designed for high operational temperature has been subject to full scale testing with temperature profiles obtained by external heating and cooling. The test is providing detailed insight in onset and magnitude of relative layer movements and layer forces. As part of the full-scale testing, novel methods for temperature gradient testing of unbonded flexible pipes have been developed, along with layer force- and deflection-measurement techniques. The full-scale test set-up has been subject to numerous temperature cycles of various magnitudes, gradients, absolute temperatures, as well as tension cycling to investigate possible couplings to dynamics. Extensive use of finite element analysis has efficiently supported test planning, instrumentation and execution, as well as enabling increased understanding of the structural interaction within the unbonded flexible pipe cross section. When exploiting the problem by finite element analysis, key inputs will be correct material models for the polymeric layers, and as-built dimensions/thicknesses. Finding the balance between reasonable simplification and model complexity is also a challenge, where access to high quality full-scale tests and dissected pipes coming back from operation provides good support for these decisions. Considering the extensive full scale testing, supported by advanced finite element analysis, it is evident that increased attention will be needed to document reliable operation in the most demanding high temperature flexible pipe applications.


2013 ◽  
Vol 486 ◽  
pp. 117-122
Author(s):  
Jindrich Fornůsek ◽  
Petr Konvalinka

This paper deals with the numerical analysis of the headed stud ́s tensile behavior in dependence on the shape and size of the head. Forty-eight 2D axi-symmetric numerical models were carried out. Three different embedment depths (50, 150 and 450 mm), each with four different angles of the top head surface (0, 20, 40 and 60 degrees) and four different head sizes (dh/hef = 0,15; 0,2; 0,3 or 0,4). The concrete behavior was simulated by the Nonlinear Cementitious2 fracture-plastic material model. The results of the analysis showed that the shape (angle) has only the negligible effect on the tensile capacity especially for the small heads. The more significant increase of the capacity was observed within the large head size where the increase of the bearing area due to the different angle is more significant.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Renato M. de Sousa ◽  
Fernando J. M. de Sousa ◽  
Marcos Q. de Siqueira ◽  
Luís V. S. Sagrilo ◽  
Carlos Alberto D. de Lemos

This paper focuses on a theoretical approach to access the fatigue life of flexible pipes. This methodology employs functions that convert forces and moments obtained in time-domain global analyses into stresses in their tensile armors. The stresses are then processed by well-known cycle counting methods, andS-Ncurves are used to evaluate the fatigue damage at several points in the pipe’s cross-section. Finally, Palmgren-Miner linear damage hypothesis is assumed in order to calculate the accumulated fatigue damage. A study on the fatigue life of a flexible pipe employing this methodology is presented. The main points addressed in the study are the influence of friction between layers, the effect of the annulus conditions, the importance of evaluating the fatigue life in various points of the pipe’s cross-section, and the effect of mean stresses. The results obtained suggest that the friction between layers and the annulus conditions strongly influences the fatigue life of flexible pipes. Moreover, mean stress effects are also significant, and at least half of the wires in each analyzed section of the pipe must be considered in a typical fatigue analysis.


Author(s):  
Jefferson Lacerda ◽  
Marcelo I. Lourenço ◽  
Theodoro A. Netto

The constant advance of offshore oil and gas production in deeper waters worldwide led to increasing operational loads on flexible pipes, making mechanical failures more susceptible. Therefore, it is important to develop more reliable numerical tools used in the design phase or during the lifetime to ensure the structural integrity of flexible pipes under specific operating conditions. This paper presents a methodology to develop simple finite element models capable of reproducing the behavior of structural layers of flexible pipes under external hydrostatic pressure up to collapse. These models use beam elements and, in multi-layer analyses, include nonlinear contact between layers. Because of the material anisotropy induced by the manufacturing process, an alternative method was carried out to estimate the average stress-strain curves of the metallic layers used in the numerical simulations. The simulations are performed for two different configurations: one where the flexible pipe is composed only of the interlocked armor, and another considering interlocked armor and pressure armor. The adequacy of the numerical models is finally evaluated in light of experimental tests on flexible pipes with nominal internal diameters of 4 and 6 in.


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