scholarly journals Centrifuge and Numerical Modeling of Monopiles for Offshore Wind Towers Installed in Clay

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhuri Murali ◽  
Francisco Grajales ◽  
Ryan D. Beemer ◽  
Giovanna Biscontin ◽  
Charles Aubeny
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Geotechnical Centrifuge ◽  
Low Aspect Ratio ◽  
Centrifuge Tests

Offshore wind power has gained momentum as a means to diversify the world’s energy infrastructure; however, little is still known of the global stiffness behavior of the large diameter low aspect ratio monopiles which have become the foundation of choice for offshore wind towers. Traditionally, offshore foundations have been associated with gravity structures for the oil and gas industry, which in general need to resist large vertical loads with limited lateral and moment loading. However, wind towers are purposely designed to be subjected to large lateral and moment loads from the wind and waves in order to maximize power generation. Geotechnical centrifuge tests were conducted and numerical models are being developed to examine the behavior of low aspect ratio piles in clayey soils. Monopiles with aspect ratio of two are being tested in the the 150g-ton centrifuge at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Initial results include momenttheta and force-displacement for various loading conditions. Numerical studies consist of finite element (FE) simulations in order to predict capacities and permanent deformations. The comparisons are to be performed in terms of the total resistance that is exerted by the soil on the caisson. FE studies allow to model capacity for different displacement fields and also to compute interactions between different loading modes. This paper outlines our progress to date including both numerical and experimental results.

scholarly journals Influence of Pile Diameter and Aspect Ratio on the Lateral Response of Monopiles in Sand with Different Relative Densties

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 618
Author(s):  
Huan Wang ◽  
Lizhong Wang ◽  
Yi Hong ◽  
Amin Askarinejad ◽  
Ben He ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Pressure Coefficient ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Soil Pressure ◽  
Pile Diameter ◽  
Centrifuge Tests ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Wide Range

The large-diameter monopiles are the most preferred foundation used in offshore wind farms. However, the influence of pile diameter and aspect ratio on the lateral bearing behavior of monopiles in sand with different relative densities has not been systematically studied. This study presents a series of well-calibrated finite-element (FE) analyses using an advanced state dependent constitutive model. The FE model was first validated against the centrifuge tests on the large-diameter monopiles. Parametric studies were performed on rigid piles with different diameters (D = 4–10 m) and aspect ratios (L/D = 3–7.5) under a wide range of loading heights (e = 5–100 m) in sands with different relative densities (Dr = 40%, 65%, 80%). The API and PISA p-y models were systematically compared and evaluated against the FE simulation results. The numerical results revealed a rigid rotation failure mechanism of the rigid pile, which is independent of pile diameter and aspect ratio. The computed soil pressure coefficient (K = p/Dσ′v) of different diameter piles at same rotation is a function of z/L (z is depth) rather than z/D. The force–moment diagrams at different deflections were quantified in sands of different relative density. Based on the observed pile–soil interaction mechanism, a simple design model was proposed to calculate the combined capacity of rigid piles.

Numerical investigation of the monotonic drained lateral behaviour of large diameter rigid piles in medium dense uniform sand

Géotechnique ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-39
Author(s):  
Huan Wang ◽  
M. Fraser Bransby ◽  
Barry M. Lehane ◽  
Lizhong Wang ◽  
Yi Hong
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Investigation ◽  
Load Transfer ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Soil Pressure ◽  
Lateral Capacity ◽  
Pile Diameter ◽  
Centrifuge Tests ◽  
Lateral Response ◽  
Loading Eccentricity

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the monotonic lateral response of large diameter monopiles in drained sand with configurations typical of those employed to support offshore wind turbines. Results from new centrifuge tests using instrumented monopiles in uniform dry sand deposits are first presented and used to illustrate the suitability of an advanced hypoplastic constitutive model to represent the sand in finite element analyses of the experiments. These analyses are then extended to examine the influence of pile diameter and loading eccentricity on the lateral response of rigid monopiles. The results show no dependency of suitably normalized lateral load transfer curves on the pile diameter and loading eccentricity. It is also shown that, in a given uniform sand, the profile with depth of net soil pressure at ultimate lateral capacity is independent of the pile diameter because of the insensitivity of the depth to the rotation centre for a rigid pile. A normalization method is subsequently proposed which unifies the load-deflection responses of different diameter rigid piles at a given load eccentricity.

New Technology Spiral SAW Pipes for Onshore and Offshore Oil and Gas Pipelines

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josef Avagianos ◽  
Kostas Papamantellos
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Quality Management System ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Step Method ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Water Transportation ◽  
Welded Pipe

The world production capacity on large-diameter welded pipe amounts to more than 12 million tons per year 20–25% are produced as spiral sub-arc welded (SAW) pipes, with the balance of 75–80% being longitudinal SAW pipes (from plates). For most spiral-weld producers, a sizeable portion of line pipe is for water transportation, rather than hydrocarbon. In the past, the relative structural weakness of spiral-welded pipe, due to larger welded area, limited the growth of its use in the oil industry. With the development of more advanced production technology, the acceptance of spiral-welded pipes in the oil and gas industry has increased significantly. In this paper, the principals of the spiral manufacturing technology from coil by the two-step-method are introduced and the innovations of Corinth Pipework’s production facility are outlined in detail, including the sophisticated NDT techniques and the Quality Management System.

scholarly journals Comparative Study of CFD and LedaFlow Models for Riser-Induced Slug Flow

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3733
Author(s):  
Rasmus Thy Jørgensen ◽  
Gunvor Rossen Tonnesen ◽  
Matthias Mandø ◽  
Simon Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Slug Flow ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Cfd Simulation ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Cfd Model ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Transient Model ◽  
Vof Model

The goal of this study is to compare mainstream Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with the widely used 1D transient model LedaFlow in their ability to predict riser induced slug flow and to determine if it is relevant for the offshore oil and gas industry to consider making the switch from LedaFlow to CFD. Presently, the industry use relatively simple 1D-models, such as LedaFlow, to predict flow patterns in pipelines. The reduction in cost of computational power in recent years have made it relevant to compare the performance of these codes with high fidelity CFD simulations. A laboratory test facility was used to obtain data for pressure and mass flow rates for the two-phase flow of air and water. A benchmark case of slug flow served for evaluation of the numerical models. A 3D unsteady CFD simulation was performed based on Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) formulation and the Volume of Fluid (VOF) model using the open-source CFD code OpenFOAM. Unsteady simulations using the commercial 1D LedaFlow solver were performed using the same boundary conditions and fluid properties as the CFD simulation. Both the CFD and LedaFlow model underpredicted the experimentally determined slug frequency by 22% and 16% respectively. Both models predicted a classical blowout, in which the riser is completely evacuated of water, while only a partial evacuation of the riser was observed experimentally. The CFD model had a runtime of 57 h while the LedaFlow model had a runtime of 13 min. It can be concluded that the prediction capabilities of the CFD and LedaFlow models are similar for riser-induced slug flow while the CFD model is much more computational intensive.

Demonstration of the Intelligent Mooring System for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus J. Harrold ◽  
Philipp R. Thies ◽  
Peter Halswell ◽  
Lars Johanning ◽  
David Newsam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbines ◽  
Floating Offshore Wind Turbines ◽  
Physical Testing ◽  
Line Loads

Abstract Existing mooring systems for floating offshore wind turbines are largely based on designs from the oil and gas industry. Even though these can ensure the safe station keeping of the floating wind platform, the design of the mooring system is currently largely conservative, leading to additional expense in an industry striving to achieve cost reduction. Recent interest in the usage of mooring materials with non-linear stiffness has shown that they have the potential to reduce peak line loads, ultimately reducing cost. This paper reports on the combined physical testing and numerical modeling of a hydraulic-based mooring component with these characteristics. The results suggest that the inclusion of the component as part of the OC4 semi-submersible platform can reduce the peak line loads by 10%. The paper also discusses a number of challenges associated with modeling and testing dynamic mooring materials.

The Experiences From the First Rounds of Offshore Wind Farm Installation in the German EEZ (Both Baltic and North Sea) and Lessons Learnt to Achieve Serial Production Status: A Consultant’s Perspective

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekkehard Stade
Keyword(s):  
Wind Farm ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Offshore Wind Farm ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Offshore Wind Farms ◽  
Near Misses ◽  
Construction Operation

Offshore wind farms present a lesser safety risk to operators and contractors than traditional oil and gas installations. In the post Macondo world this does not come as a surprise since the risks involved in construction, operation and maintenance of an offshore wind farm are by far lower. Even with higher probability of incidents and near misses (due to serial construction) the severity/ impact of those is considerably lower. On the other hand projects are complex, profit margins are what they are called: marginal. Hence there is no room for errors, perhaps in form of delays. If, for example, the installation completion of the turbines and the inner array cabling/ export cables are not perfectly in tune, the little commercial success that can be achieved is rapidly diminishing by costly compensation activities. The paper will try to present solutions to the most pressing challenges and elaborate on the effect those would have had, had they been implemented at the beginning of the projects. How can a sustainable new industry evolve by learning from established industries? Presently, there is a view that offshore wind is a short-lived business. Particularly representatives of the oil and gas industry raise such concern. Apart from the obvious bias of those voices, this controversy is also caused by the fact that offshore wind seems to have a tendency to try and re-invent the wheel rather than using established procedures. Even with a relatively stable commitment to the offshore wind development regardless of the respective government focus within European coastal states the industry suffers from financing issues, subsidies, over-regulation due to lack of expertise within authorities and other challenges. The avoidance of those is key to a successful development for this industry in other areas of the planet. In conjunction with a stable commitment this is essential in order to attract the long lead-time projects and to establish the complex supply chains to achieve above goals. The paper will look at the short but intensive history of the industry and establish mitigation to some of the involved risks of offshore wind farm EPCI.

Numerical Simulation of Spudcan Penetration Into Silica Sand and Prediction of Bearing Behaviour

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Pucker ◽  
Britta Bienen ◽  
Sascha Henke
Keyword(s):  
Bearing Capacity ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Cone Angle ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Friction Angle ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Silica Sand ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Jack Up ◽  
Bearing Behavior

Prediction of the bearing behavior of vertical loaded shallow foundations is typically done using the classical bearing capacity approach. This approach is very sensitive to the friction angle assumed in the calculation. A conservative estimate of the bearing capacity is required for most applications, hence uncertainties in the friction angle may be absorbed by the safety factor applied. Spudcans are used to found mobile jack-up platforms in the oil and gas industry as well as in the offshore wind energy industry. Contrary to the classical approach, the bearing capacity of spudcans has to be predicted accurately. Spudcans are penetrated into the seabed and a continuous bearing failure proceeds until the target capacity is met. A Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) approach is used to simulate the penetration process of spudcans into silica sand. The sand is modeled using a hypoplastic constitutive model to capture the influence of the void ratio and stress state for example. A parametric study of foundation diameter and enclosed cone angle is presented. The numerical model is validated against results from centrifuge experiments of flat and conical circular footings penetrating into silica sand. A first empirical approach to estimate the bearing capacity depending on the diameter and enclosed cone angle is given for silica sand.

Finite Element Investigation on the Tensile Armor Wire Response of Flexible Pipe for Axisymmetric Loading Conditions Using an Implicit Solver

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Ebrahimi ◽  
Shawn Kenny ◽  
Amgad Hussein
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Parameter Study ◽  
Loading Conditions ◽  
Flexible Pipe ◽  
Axisymmetric Loading ◽  
Implicit Solver

Composite flexible pipe is used in the offshore oil and gas industry for the transport of hydrocarbons, jumpers connecting subsea infrastructure, and risers with surface platforms and facilities. Although the material fabrication costs are high, there are technical advantages with respect to installation and performance envelope (e.g., fatigue). Flexible pipe has a complex, composite section with each layer addressing a specific function (e.g., pressure containment, and axial load). Continuum finite element modeling (FEM) procedures are developed to examine the mechanical response of an unbonded flexible pipe subject to axisymmetric loading conditions. A parameter study examined the effects of: (1) pure torsion, (2) interlayer friction factor, (3) axial tension, and (4) external and internal pressure on the pipe mechanical response. The results demonstrated a coupled global-local mechanism with a bifurcation path for positive angles of twist relative to the tensile armor wire pitch angle. These results indicated that idealized analytical- and structural-based numerical models may be incomplete or may provide an accurate prediction of the pipe mechanical response. The importance of using an implicit solver to predict the bifurcation response and simulate contact mechanics between layers was highlighted.

Use of Finite Element Analysis for Stud Pre-Tension Determination of Large Diameter Integral Flanges With Ring Joint Gaskets

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Upali Panapitiya ◽  
Haoyu Wang ◽  
Syed Jafri ◽  
Paul Jukes
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element Analysis ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Axial Forces ◽  
Three Dimensional Finite Element

Large diameter integral steel flanges are widely used in many applications in the oil and gas industry. The flanges of nominal pipe sizes, 26-inch and above with ring-joint gaskets as specified in ASME B 16.47 Standard, are used in the offshore applications for the transportation of oil and gas from production facilities. These pipelines require flanged connections at end terminations, mid-line tie-ins and expansion loops. The conventional design of large diameter steel flanges is based on one-dimensional analytical methods similar to the procedure in ASME VIII Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Division 1 Appendix 2. The effects of axial forces and bending moments are approximated by calculating an equivalent pressure. This usually results in conservative designs for the large flanges because it estimates the required stud pre-tension based on the assumption that the gasket will be unloaded entirely to a minimum stress, whereas only a small section of the gasket is subjected to low stress. This technical paper presents the quasi-static, nonlinear, and three-dimensional finite element models of large diameter steel flanged joint for the determination of stud pre-tension and change of stud tension under various loading conditions. The finite element analysis results are compared with the results obtained by using the equivalent pressure method and flange “Joint Diagram”.

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