Advanced Finite-Element Modeling for Creep Simulation on Flexible Pipe Pressure Sheath

Author(s):  
Jérôme Naturel ◽  
Thomas Epsztein ◽  
Thierry Gavouyère

Unbounded Flexible pipe used for offshore fields development are usually composed of different layers of polymer and steel, each layer having a specific function during the product service life. This multi-layer characteristic enables to tailor the cross-section of the pipe to meet project-specific requirement, and optimize the cost of the product for each application. In particular, the main function of the thermoplastic pressure sheath is to guaranty the sealing of the product. The material and the thickness of this pressure sheath mainly depend on the pressure and temperature of the bore, and the design choice is driven by the creeping of the sheath in the interstices of the pressure vault: it must be limited with regard to sheath thickness reduction, as per API17J design requirement. Consequently, when developing new material for pressure sheath application, the early prediction of the creep performance over the full range of the targeted application is crucial. For this reason, before any full-scale test, a test campaign is required to evaluate the creeping of the material on small-scale material sample. In this development context, the use of advanced finite-element simulation for predicting the creeping behavior is quite useful to amplify the benefit of tests campaign results, and to give additional information on material performances. As far as the modelling is validated by correlation with small-scale tests, the numerical tool is used to multiply virtual creep tests configurations. This paper will focus on the numerical challenges for developing such creeping simulation, based on ABAQUS commercial software. Firstly, the identification of the viscoelastoplastic parameters for polymer material law will be presented. This material law is a nonlinear viscoelastoplastic model consisting of multiple networks connected in parallel. The number of parameters of such law is not limited, but a compromise between law precision and identification robustness must be found. Then, the correlation process between small-scale test and finite-element results will be detailed. In particular, the influence of the experimental protocol has to be determined. Finally, a sensitivity study of the most influent parameters, based on parametric FEA model, will be presented to highlight the benefice of such model. The benefice of such model does not only consist on correlation with small-scale test. As the material modeling is intrinsic, it is also possible to use the same law for studying the creep behavior on very different geometrical configurations.

Author(s):  
Yijun Shen ◽  
Jian Zhao ◽  
Zhimin Tan ◽  
Terry Sheldrake

This paper investigates the influence of bore pressure, combined with the nonlinear behaviour of the polymer material, on the creep behaviour of the polymer barrier layer inside an unbonded flexible pipe. Creep behaviour in the barrier layer may result in its reduction in thickness and is therefore an important design consideration in ensuring the structural integrity of this layer. It is meaningful to study the variation in creep behaviour in an unbonded flexible pipe under different bore pressures and temperatures, especially in high pressure pipelines for deep or ultra-deep sea applications. Creep behaviour in polymer material is complex, as it is governed by a number of variables such as the stress/strain state, temperature, and pressure for example. It is generally time-dependent and often associated with larger strains or states of deformation. Owing to the complexity of polymer material creep, an implicit time hardening creep model, based on the Maxwell viscoelastic model, has been selected to represent the creep behaviour in polymer materials and implemented into the Gap Span model, which is an in-house ANSYS based finite element model. The coefficients of this creep model were initially calibrated according to standard creep tests performed on polymer materials. The study presented in this paper focuses on the influence of bore pressure and high temperature on the creep behaviour of the polymer barrier layer. Comparisons between the simulation results of the calibrated Gap Span creep model and the corresponding small-scale creep tests demonstrate that these model predictions are overly conservative for the polymer material of the barrier layer inside an unbonded flexible pipe. Comparisons between the experimental test results and the finite element modelling results show good correlation.


Author(s):  
Richard Clements ◽  
Andrew D. Ethridge

This paper describes further investigations, utilising small scale test cells, into the general corrosion which can occur on wires within the inherent annulus space in a flexible pipe, particularly, and for the first time, in a sour service (H2S containing) environment. The work enhances data presented previously in 2002. Tests have been performed in cells specifically designed to simulate, as closely as possible, the environment and confines of a flexible pipe annulus, using solutions of both deionized water and seawater (to represent seawater flooding and condensed water). The systems were saturated with CO2 and H2S to simulate permeation of gases through the polymer pressure sheath (as predicted by validated permeation models). Weight loss measurements were undertaken in order to quantify the corrosion rate in these simulated annulus environments and metallography was undertaken to characterise the corrosion and check for HIC/SOHIC.


Author(s):  
Olaf O. Otte Filho ◽  
Rafael L. Tanaka ◽  
Rafael G. Morini ◽  
Rafael N. Torres ◽  
Thamise S. V. Vilela

In the design of flexible pipes, predict the anchoring behavior on end fittings is always challenging. In this sense, Prysmian Surflex has developed a finite element model, which should help the end fitting design as well the prediction of the structural behavior and the acceptable maximum loads. The current model considers that the contact between armor-resin is purely cohesive and has been suitable for the design of end fittings [1] and [2]. But tests and new studies [3] and [4] indicate that only cohesive assumption would not be the best approach. Experimental data from prototype tests also show that the current model would not predict acceptable results for loads higher than those used in previous projects. This document will describe a study developed considering the friction and thermal contraction, instead of the cohesive phenomenon in the anchoring behavior analysis. Small scale tests were conducted in order to understand the anchoring relation between the resin and the wire used in the tensile armor. For this purpose, a special test device was developed to simulate an enclosure system. A parametric study was also performed to identify the cooling temperatures, coefficients of friction and contact properties parameters taken from small scale tests. The finite element model considers the thermal effects during exothermic curing. Using the new parameters obtained, a second model was developed. This model consists of only one real shaped bended wire inside an end fitting cavity. To validate the model, samples were tested on laboratory according anchoring design. The results of this round of tests were studied and corroborate the argument that use friction and thermal effects is better than use only the cohesive condition.


Author(s):  
M. T. Rahmati ◽  
G. Alfano ◽  
H. Bahai

In this paper the implementation of two types of boundaries, periodic and fixed in-plane boundaries, for a detailed finite-element model of flexible risers is discussed. By using three-dimensional elements, all layer components are individually modelled and a surface-to-surface frictional contact model is used to simulate their interaction. The approach is applied on several riser models with various lengths and layers. It is shown that the model with periodic boundaries can be effectively employed in a fully-nested (FE2) multiscale analysis based on computational homogenization. In fact, in this model only a small fraction of a flexible pipe is needed for a detailed nonlinear finite-element analysis at the small scale. The advantage of applying periodic boundary conditions in capturing the detailed nonlinear effects and the efficiencies in terms of significant CPU time saving are demonstrated.


Author(s):  
N. J. Underwood

The multi-layered unbonded structure of a flexible pipe creates an inherent internal volume known as an annulus. This annulus envelops the hoop pressure and tensile reinforcements of the pipe. This presents very specific corrosion conditions if seawater intrudes or water condenses in the annulus and no protection system operates to prevent corrosion. This paper describes an investigation into the effect on general corrosion as a result of this environment utilising small-scale test cells. This was undertaken as an attempt to simulate the corrosion conditions that may occur in differing zones of a flexible pipeline. The cell environment was varied by use of both de-ionised water and seawater. The system was saturated with CO2 and CH4 to simulate permeation of this gas through the polymer pressure sheath. Electrochemical and weight loss measurements were undertaken in order to quantify the corrosion rate in these simulated environments. This approach attempts to give useful information regarding the nature of carbon steel tensile reinforcements used in flexible pipeline under operational conditions.


Author(s):  
Tore Roberg Andersen ◽  
Jan Ivar Skar

A test program has been performed to obtain the permeation coefficients for methane, carbon dioxide and water in PVDF. Small-scale tests showed that water is transported through the PVDF inner sheath of the flexible pipes, and into the annulus. A large-scale test was carried out to verify the small-scale test results. It was performed in a 2″ flexible pipe with length 3 m. The bore temperature and pressure were 100°C and 50 bar, respectively. The pipe was submerged in cold water in order to get a correct temperature gradient in the pipe. The test showed that the annulus of flexible pipe with PVDF inner sheath would become water wet due to permeation, depending upon the bore and annulus conditions.


1986 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Nakajima ◽  
J. Padovan

Abstract This paper extends the finite element simulation scheme to handle the problem of tires undergoing sliding (skidding) impact into obstructions. Since the inertial characteristics are handled by the algorithm developed, the full range of operating environments can be accommodated. This includes the treatment of impacts with holes and bumps of arbitrary geometry.


1998 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-62
Author(s):  
A. L. A. Costa ◽  
M. Natalini ◽  
M. F. Inglese ◽  
O. A. M. Xavier

Abstract Because the structural integrity of brake systems and tires can be related to the temperature, this work proposes a transient heat transfer finite element analysis (FEA) model to study the overheating in drum brake systems used in trucks and urban buses. To understand the mechanics of overheating, some constructive variants have been modeled regarding the assemblage: brake, rims, and tires. The model simultaneously studies the thermal energy generated by brakes and tires and how the heat is transferred and dissipated by conduction, convection, and radiation. The simulated FEA data and the experimental temperature profiles measured with thermocouples have been compared giving good correlation.


2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon La Follett ◽  
John Stroud ◽  
Pat Malvoso ◽  
Joseph Lopes ◽  
Raymond Lim ◽  
...  

Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 646 ◽  
Author(s):  
García-Díaz ◽  
Patiño ◽  
Vázquez ◽  
Gil-Serna

Aflatoxin (AF) contamination of maize is a major concern for food safety. The use of chemical fungicides is controversial, and it is necessary to develop new effective methods to control Aspergillus flavus growth and, therefore, to avoid the presence of AFs in grains. In this work, we tested in vitro the effect of six essential oils (EOs) extracted from aromatic plants. We selected those from Satureja montana and Origanum virens because they show high levels of antifungal and antitoxigenic activity at low concentrations against A. flavus. EOs are highly volatile compounds and we have developed a new niosome-based encapsulation method to extend their shelf life and activity. These new formulations have been successfully applied to reduce fungal growth and AF accumulation in maize grains in a small-scale test, as well as placing the maize into polypropylene woven bags to simulate common storage conditions. In this latter case, the antifungal properties lasted up to 75 days after the first application.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document