Fatigue Analysis of a 6” Flexible Pipe With Broken Tensile Armor Wires

Author(s):  
José R. M. de Sousa ◽  
Fernando J. M. de Sousa ◽  
Marcos Q. de Siqueira ◽  
Luís V. S. Sagrilo ◽  
George Campello ◽  
...  

This work focuses on a methodology to predict the fatigue life of flexible pipes with wires broken in their tensile armors. Initially, the mechanical behavior of these pipes is discussed. Relying on this discussion, a simple set of equations is proposed in order to calculate the stresses in the armors of these pipes. These equations employ pre-estimated linear coefficients to convert forces and moments that act on the pope into stresses. These stresses are then processed by well-known cycle counting methods and S-N curves are finally used to evaluate fatigue damage at several points in the pipe’s cross section. The use of this methodology is exemplified by the assessment of the fatigue life of a 6” flexible pipe in which 0 up to 5 wires of its outer tensile armor are broken. The results indicate a substantial reduction in the fatigue life of the pipe with the increasing number of wires broken.

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):  
Kaien Jiang ◽  
Yutian Lu ◽  
Yong Bai

This paper mainly focuses on a theoretical methodology to calculate the fatigue life of tensile armor of flexible pipes. This approach employs the local model of flexible pipe that converts forces and moments obtained in time-domain global analyses into stresses in the spiral tendons of tensile armor layer. The stresses are then processed by rainflow counting methods, and S-N curves are adopted to evaluate the fatigue damage of tensile armors. Finally, Miner linear cumulative damage theory is used in order to calculate the accumulated fatigue damage. A case study on the fatigue life of a flexible pipe employing this methodology is presented, and the fatigue life of flexible pipe is obtained. The main points addressed in the study are the effect of mean stress and friction coefficients. The results indicate that the inner tensile armor at suspension point is the most prone to fatigue damage, in addition, mean stress correction and friction coefficients strongly influence the fatigue life of flexible pipes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 44-46 ◽  
pp. 733-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Rong Miao ◽  
Wei Hua Zhang ◽  
Shou Ne Xiao ◽  
Ding Chang Jin ◽  
Yong Xiang Zhao

Railway vehicle structure fatigue life consumption monitoring can be used to determine fatigue damage by directly or indirectly monitoring the loads placed on critical vehicle components susceptible to failure from fatigue damage. The sample locomotive carbody structure was used for this study. Firstly, the hybrid fatigue analysis method was used with Multi-Body System (MBS) simulation and Finite Element Method (FEM) for evaluating the carbody structure dynamic stress histories. Secondly, the standard fatigue time domain method was used in fatigue analysis software FE-FATIGUE and MATLAB WAFO (Wave Analysis for Fatigue and Oceanography) tools. And carbody structure fatigue life and fatigue damage were predicted. Finally, and carbody structure dynamic stress experimental data was taken from this locomotive running between Kunming-Weishe for this analysis. The data was used to validate the simulation results based on hybrid method. The analysis results show that the hybrid method prediction error is approximately 30.7%. It also illustrates that the fatigue life and durability of the locomotive can be predicted with this hybrid method. The results of this study can be modified to be representative of the railway vehicle dynamic stress test.


Author(s):  
Pan Fang ◽  
Yuxin Xu ◽  
Shuai Yuan ◽  
Yong Bai ◽  
Peng Cheng

Fibreglass reinforced flexible pipe (FRFP) is regarded as a great alternative to many bonded flexible pipes in the field of oil or gas transportation in shallow water. This paper describes an analysis of the mechanical behavior of FRFP under torsion. The mechanical behavior of FRFP subjected to pure torsion was investigated by experimental, analytical and numerical methods. Firstly, this paper presents experimental studies of three 10-layer FRFP subjected to torsional load. Torque-torsion angle relations were recorded during this test. Then, a theoretical model based on three-dimensional (3D) anisotropic elasticity theory was proposed to study the mechanical behavior of FRFP. In addition, a finite element model (FEM) including reinforced layers and PE layers was used to simulate the torsional load condition in ABAQUS. Torque-torsion angle relations obtained from these three methods agree well with each other, which illustrates the accuracy and reliability of the analytical model and FEM. The impact of fibreglass winding angle, thickness of reinforced layers and radius-thickness ratio were also studied. Conclusions obtained from this research may be of great practicality to manufacturing engineers.


Author(s):  
Yifan Gao ◽  
Shan Jin ◽  
Peng Cheng ◽  
Peihua Han ◽  
Yong Bai

Abstract Fiberglass reinforced flexible pipe (FRFP) is a kind of composite thermoplastic pipe, which has many advantages compared to boned flexible pipes. This paper describes an analysis of the mechanical behavior of FRFP under bending. The bending behavior of FRFP was investigated by experimental, analytical and numerical methods. Firstly, this paper presents experimental studies of three 10-layer FRFP in a typical four-point bending test. Curvature-bending moment relations were recorded during the test. Then, based on the nonlinear ring theory and the principle of virtual work, a simplified method was proposed to study the mechanical behavior of FRFP. In addition, a finite element model (FEM) including reinforced layers and high density polyethylene (HDPE) layers was established to simulate the HDPE layers and reinforced layers, respectively. The result of Curvature-bending moment relations obtained from three methods agree well with each other, which proves that the simplified analytical model and FEM are accurate and reliable. The conclusions of this paper could be useful to manufacturing engineers.


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.


Author(s):  
Mário Caruso ◽  
Xu Han ◽  
Nils Sødahl

The fatigue life assessment of free spanning flexible products, such as subsea cables and umbilicals, due VIV requires special attention to the structural properties due to the stick/slip behaviour of helix elements in bending. Essential parameters for assessment of stick/slip effects in free span VIV response are the structural damping in the stick regime (i.e. umbilical behaves as a solid cross section due to friction between the helix elements) as well as the additional damping introduced by the hysteretic damping due to the stick/slip behaviour in bending. Furthermore, consistent fatigue stress recovery considering the stick/slip behaviour in bending is essential for fatigue life predictions. The consistent evaluation of stick/slip behaviour requires more sophisticated calculation procedures due to the non-linearity it introduces. Hence, industry practice has been to consider simplified, linear calculation procedures. However, future flexibles utilization may be much benefitted by a consistent stick/slip treatment in free spanning VIV fatigue assessments, as it may allow for longer allowable free span lengths or longer fatigue life. The overall objective of the paper is to establish a consistent free span VIV analysis methodology for flexibles in compliance with requirements given in ISO 13628-5 ‘Subsea Umbilicals’ and the overall philosophy of DNV-RP-F105 ‘Free Spanning Pipelines’. A consistent fatigue analysis scheme for VIV in free spans is outlined using commercially available state-of-the-art computer programs for free span VIV response analysis (FatFree) and cross section stress analysis (Helica). The performance of the calculation scheme is demonstrated by case studies in a complex long-term current loading environment. It is shown that consistent treatment of the mechanical properties of flexibles is essential for VIV fatigue life assessments of free spans.


Author(s):  
Billy Ballard ◽  
Yi-Hsiang Yu ◽  
Jennifer Van Rij ◽  
Frederick Driscoll

Abstract Unique umbilical designs for wave energy converters (WECs), including the ability to handle significantly larger motions and loads over long deployments, are often required when conventional marine umbilical designs for offshore oil and gas and offshore wind may not meet the design and cost needs of wave energy technologies. This study details a fatigue analysis of a dynamic power umbilical attached to a two-body floating point absorber WEC system, using the sea states provided for the PacWave testing facilities. The 6 degrees of freedom motion time history for the WEC was simulated, and the motions of the attachment point for the umbilical on the WEC and respective sea states were used to analyze the dynamic motions and fatigue of the connected power umbilical to predict the fatigue life. The results show that the fatigue damage observed is more significant in shallow water, and extensive fatigue damage may occur because of the larger curvature response of the umbilical. The umbilical configurations departing at 90 deg off incoming waves were found to have the highest fatigue life attributed to less extension or compression of the umbilical. However, additional bend stiffener/limiter features may need to be incorporated into the buoyancy section and touchdown regions to minimize curvature-induced fatigue.


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):  
Shrikarpagam Dhandapani

Fatigue occurs in structures due to the stresses from cyclic environmental loads. Offshore environmental loads being highly cyclic and recurring in nature, fatigue analysis with high degree of accuracy is required for reliable and optimized design of offshore structures. The main aim of this paper is to automate the process of identification of fatigue critical tubular joints of an offshore jacket structure using deterministic fatigue analysis with emphasis on the Hot Spot Stress Range (HSSR), an important measure in estimating fatigue damage, calculated using three different approaches for each tubular joint. The first approach determines HSSR at the time of maximum base shear of the jacket, the second, by calculating the difference between maximum and minimum Hot Spot Stress (HSS) and the third, at all time-instants of the wave cycle. Thus fatigue damage and fatigue life of the tubular joints are estimated using the highest HSSR value and the joints with lower fatigue life are identified as fatigue sensitive joints. This ensures effective identification of critical tubular joints of the offshore jacket structure which needs detailed investigation or redesign for fatigue. The deterministic approach discussed in this paper is applicable to large jackets which contains more number of tubular joints where sophisticated fatigue assessment at the preliminary stage is computationally intensive and manual identification of fatigue critical joints is laborious.


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