Symmetric and anti-symmetric buckle propagation modes in subsea corroded pipelines

Solutions for the steady-state buckle propagation modes and pressures in a corroded pipeline subjected to external hydrostatic pressure are presented. The buckle propagation pressure of a corroded pipeline is obtained analytically with a rigid-plastic analysis and numerically from finite element analysis (ABAQUS). Both the rigid-plastic analysis and ABAQUS program reveal symmetric and anti-symmetric buckling modes, depending on the depth and angular extent of the corrosion. Snap-through and global buckling of the pipeline are also distinguished in both solutions. The rigid-plastic solutions for buckle propagation pressure and corresponding collapse modes are found to be within 15% with numerical solutions.     

Experimental investigation of the strength and stability of submarine pressure hulls with and without artificial corrosion damage

A submarine may have to operate for a period of time with local corrosion damage in the pressure hull if a suitable repair method is unavailable or too expensive for implementation. This paper describes collapse tests on twenty ring-stiffened aluminium cylinders, which were conducted to study the effect of corrosion damage on hull strength and stability. Artificial hull thinning was found to reduce the collapse strength of experimental models through high local stresses in the corroded region, leading to early onset of yielding and inelastic buckling. Bending associated with the eccentricity due to one-sided thinning was found to further increase the local stresses in the hull. Overall collapse pressures were more severely affected by corrosion damage than interframe collapse pressures. The percentage reduction in overall collapse pressure, compared with intact experimental models, was found to be closely related to the percentage depth of thinning. The accuracy of conventional collapse pressure predictions for the experimental models was significantly better for intact than for corroded cylinders.     

Controlled pipeline lateral buckling by reeling induced curvature imperfections

Expansion of pipelines installed on the sea floor due to the passage of high temperature and pressure hydrocarbons leads to lateral buckling. Interaction with a frictional sea floor can result in localization of such buckles, which must be controlled to ensure that the local bending is within acceptable limits. Periodic geometric imperfections introduced to a pipeline installed by reeling using the Residual Curvature Method are modeled and their effectiveness as expansion loops is evaluated. The imperfections are generated by allowing chosen lengths of the line to retain a small curvature by judicious action at the straightener. The model properly accounts for the complex interactions between geometric and material nonlinearities with frictional forces. It is demonstrated that as the temperature increases, the line can buckle in a snap-through manner, or can grow stably usually causing plastic deformation in its crest. The behavior is governed by the length, curvature, amplitude and periodicity of the imperfection, and by the lateral and axial frictional forces that develop. The effect of each of these variables is studied parametrically. Overall, the Residual Curvature Method is found to be a viable and effective method of controlling lateral buckling. The results provide guidance on the optimal periodicity, how to avoid snap-through buckling, and how to simultaneously minimize plastic bending.     

Comparison of computational and analytical methods for evaluation of failure pressure of subsea pipelines containing internal and external corrosions

In the designing stage of subsea pipelines, the design parameters, such as pipe materials, thickness and diameters, are carefully determined to guarantee flow assurance and structural safety. However, once corrosion occurs in pipelines, the operating pressure should be decreased to prevent the failure of pipelines. Otherwise, an abrupt burst can occur in the corroded region of the pipeline, and it leads to serious disasters in the environment and financial loss. Accordingly, the relationship between the corrosion amount and failure pressure of the pipeline, i.e., the maximum operating pressure, should be investigated, and then, the assessment guideline considering the failure pressure should be identified. There are several explicit type codes that regulate the structural safety for corroded subsea pipelines, such as ASME B31G, DNV RF 101, ABS Building and Classing Subsea Pipeline Systems, and API 579. These rules are well defined; however, there are some limitations associated with describing precise failure pressure. Briefly, all of the existing rules cannot consider the material nonlinearity, such as elastoplasticity effect of the pipeline, as well as the actual three-dimensional corrosion shape. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to suggest a modified formula parameter considering the above-mentioned pipeline and corrosion characteristics. As a result, the material nonlinearity as well as the corrosion configuration, i.e., axial/circumferential corrosion length, width and depth, is reflected in a set of finite element models and a series of finite element analysis considering the operation conditions are followed. Based on the comparative study between the simulation and analytical results, which can be obtained from the classification society rules, the modified formulae for failure pressure calculation are proposed.     

Accuracy of nonlinear finite element collapse predictions for submarine pressure hulls with and without artificial corrosion damage

Nonlinear finite element (FE) collapse pressure predictions are compared to experimental results for submarine pressure hull test specimens with and without artificial corrosion and tested to collapse under external hydrostatic pressure. The accuracy of FE models, and their sensitivity to modeling and solution procedures, are investigated by comparing FE simulations of the experiments using two different model generators and three solvers. The standard FE methodology includes the use of quadrilateral shell elements, nonlinear mapping of measured geometric imperfections, and quasi-static incremental analyses including nonlinear material and geometry. The FE models are found to be accurate to approximately 11%, with 95% confidence, regardless of the model generator and solver that is used. Collapse pressure predictions for identical FE models obtained using each of the three solvers agree within 2.8%, indicating that the choice of FE solver does not significantly affect the predicted collapse pressure. The FE predictions are found to be more accurate for corroded than for undamaged models, and neglecting the shell eccentricity that arises due to one-sided shell thinning is found to significantly decrease the resulting accuracy of the FE model.     

壁厚所致几何不连续性对卷管法安装管道的影响

对于深水管道,止屈器起到了很好的防止屈曲传播的作用,但是在卷管法安装中,管道在上卷和退卷的过程中将产生塑性变形,而由于止屈器导致的管道壁厚几何不连续性将使局部管段的变形增大,可能加剧塑性变形的影响。针对这个问题,建立ABAQUS非线性有限元模型模拟管道安装过程,研究上述问题对卷管铺管中管道性能的影响并作参数敏感性分析。结果表明,壁厚所致几何不连续性的存在导致卷管安装时管道局部曲率及应变明显增大;回拉力、管径与卷筒直径之比及管道壁厚等参数也将产生影响。另外,增加回拉力可降低上述不连续性的影响,但管道残余椭圆度也将增加;增大卷筒半径（或减小管道直径）将使不连续性的影响降低;增大管道壁厚可降低不连续性影响,但随之建造成本也将增加。本文研究结论可为卷管法安装中管道设计提供理论指导。     

Finite element analyses of corroded pipeline with single defect subjected to internal pressure and axial compressive stress

This paper describes the application of finite element method (FEM) and the development of equations to predict the failure pressure of single corrosion affected pipes subjected to internal pressure and axial compressive stress. The finite element analysis (FEA) results were verified against full-scale burst tests and theoretical calculations. Material non-linearity, which allow for large strains and displacements, were considered. In addition, true UTS instead of engineering UTS was used to determine the point of failure. The pipes used in the FEA was modelled based on API 5L X52 modified steel with a length of 2000 mm, a nominal outer diameter of 300 mm, and a nominal wall thickness of 10 mm. The results obtained from FEA were compared to that of existing comprehensive corrosion assessment method, known as DNV-RP-F101. Six equations, utilizing the Buckingham's π theorem and multivariate non-linear regression techniques, were developed for predicting the failure pressure of corroded pipeline with single defect subjected to both internal pressure and axial compressive stress. These equations provide improved failure pressure predictions with good margins of errors (less than 10%).     

Buckling strength assessment of corrugated panels in offshore structures

There is an increasing trend of living quarters in offshore structures being constructed using corrugated panels in order to save construction time and cost. Different from corrugated bulkheads in ship structures, the corrugated panels used in the living quarters are designed in triangular or trapezoidal profile with unequal flanges and with a corrugation angle between 45° and 90°. Industry needs have prompted the American Bureau of Shipping to develop design recommendations for the buckling strength assessment of these corrugated panels. This paper describes the main features and the principles of the recommendations based on ABS experience, along with the technical background. The modeling uncertainty associated with the recommended criteria has been established by comparing the predictions with laboratory tests and finite element analysis results. Two design examples are provided to demonstrate the application of the recommendations.     

带止屈器的复合材料圆柱壳结构屈曲分析及优化

针对海洋工程上的复合材料圆柱壳结构,基于有限元软件ABAQUS,利用Python语言编程实现参数化建模、屈曲分析以及在后处理中提取屈曲因子。研究复合材料圆柱壳结构在单独受到轴向压力、侧向压力以及两种压力组合作用下止屈器的位置对屈曲极限强度的影响,并利用遗传算法多参数优化的方法对止屈器的位置进行优化,最终找到最优解。研究结果可以为复合材料圆柱壳结构抵抗屈曲失效的优化设计提供参考。     

Modelling upheaval buckling in marine buried pipelines by coupling the shear stresses and soft soil stiffness

Buried marine pipelines employed in the Oil & Gas industry are subjected to pressure and temperature gradients, which cand produce local high compression loads leading to the onset of upheaval buckling failure. Upheaval buckling occurs when the localized stresses across the pipeline are high enough to induce constant deformation due to the low soil restriction in the upward direction. Therefore, models to predict upheaval buckling in buried marine pipes caused by high pressure and high temperature (HP/HT) and soil stiffness have been developed based on Euler-Bernoulli beam theory (EBT). However, this theory does not consider stresses and strains due to shear stresses which can play an important role in upheaval buckling failure. Therefore, in this work an analytical model that takes into account Engesser-Timoshenko beam theory (TBT) and considers the shear effects on pipelines was developed to predict upheaval buckling in buried marine pipelines. Furthermore, equations that govern vertical buckling of buried pipelines considering a plastic soil with initial imperfection were considered. Analytical results were compared with finite element models of buried pipeline and other models reported in the literature, and it was observed that analytical results fall in the range of those reposted in the literature. It was also observed that the incorporation of shear stresses in buried marine pipelines has low effect on upheaval buckling onset and propagation, but the soil stiffness has a strong influence on upheaval failure in buried marine pipelines.     

深水海底管道止屈器设计研究

随着水深的增加,深水海底管道由于外压导致压溃、屈曲及屈曲传播的可能性大大增加.深水海管设计中,通常采用止屈器来控制海管由于较大的外压可能造成的压溃及屈曲传播.止屈器的主要作用是:在管道受外压的条件下,一旦发生压溃屈曲并发生屈曲传播时,将屈曲传播的破坏限制在一定管道长度范围内.该文进行了深水海底管道止屈器设计研究,并基于有限元模型进行了管道的屈曲和屈曲传播分析.     

A computational investigation of the effects of both-sides general corrosion on the buckling/plastic collapse behaviour and strength of stiffened plates

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the post-buckling behaviour and ultimate strength of imperfect corroded stiffened steel plates used in ships and other marine-related structures. A series of elastic–plastic large deflection finite element analyses is performed on stiffened steel plates suffering general corrosion wastage with random distribution. General corrosion is introduced into the finite element models using a random thickness surface model. The effects of corroded stiffened plate parameters on the post-buckling and ultimate strengths are evaluated in detail. The stiffeners of different symmetrical or unsymmetrical cross-sections are introduced into the models for analysis. Some distinctions are explored and highlighted between the behaviours of steel plates suffering general corrosion in unstiffened and stiffened cases. Finally, a proposal is given in order to simulate the average stress–average strain relationship of stiffened steel plates having both-surface general corrosion wastage.     

海底管道腐蚀后的剩余强度评价

海底管道通常会因腐蚀而形成各种不同类型的缺陷,影响管道的承载能力和使用寿命。本研究在准确掌握管道缺陷发展情况的基础上,分别根据行业规范和采用有限元方法对海上油田含有腐蚀缺陷的原油管线进行剩余强度评价,判定海底管道修复的必要性和修复的紧迫程度,以确定最终的管线修复方案,可供类似海底管道修复工程参考。     

国外海底管道局部屈曲研究综述

海底管道是海洋油气集输系统中最重要的组成部分之一,从铺设到服役都将承受多种载荷的作用,并可能发生局部屈曲且沿管道传播开来,由此造成严重的后果。海底管道的局部屈曲在管道安全性方面具有重要意义,已成为海底管道设计与评估中重要的内容。详细阐述了国外关于海底管道受外压、弯矩和轴力作用下的局部屈曲研究成果,论述了在单个载荷和多个载荷联合作用下的局部屈曲破坏机理,并提出了未来研究的建议。     

组合应力作用下含腐蚀缺陷海管安全工作压力评价方法

在较高温度和压力作用下,由于土壤的摩擦阻力,海管会产生很大的轴向压力,以及由侧向屈曲引发的弯矩。因此对含腐蚀缺陷管道安全工作压力的评价,须考虑轴向压应力的影响。对目前工程界的评价方法进行对比分析,在内压和轴向压应力组合作用下,含腐蚀缺陷海管的安全压力评价方法还很不完善,尤其是复杂缺陷,目前的规范还不完全适用。通过对许用应力法安全系数的讨论和分析,基于Von Mises准则和有限元分析,提出了组合应力作用下含腐蚀缺陷海管的安全工作压力评价方法。通过该方法对某运行了近三十年的管道进行了安全工作压力的评估,同时考察了轴向压应力对安全工作压力的影响。此方法对应的轴向压应力限值和安全等级以及安全系数相关,当安全等级低时,其值和DNV-RP-F101规范值基本一致,当安全等级高时,其值比DNV-RP-F101规范值大。     

国外海底管道屈曲传播及止屈试验技术综述

海底管道屈曲传播机理极其复杂,涉及到弹塑性稳定后屈曲问题,须通过大量的试验进行研究.文章概述了国内外海底管道屈曲传播理论研究发展历程,着重介绍了国外在海底管道屈曲传播与止屈试验技术方面的研究,总结和评述了国外相关试验装置的特点,探讨屈曲传播压力、传播速度、止屈效率等关键因素的试验测定方法,并指明了管道屈曲传播与止屈试验技术的发展方向,为海底管道屈曲传播及止屈试验设计提供指导.     

Buckle propagation of damaged SHCC sandwich pipes: Experimental tests and numerical simulation

Sandwich pipe (SP) combining high-strength performance and thermal insulation has been considered an effective solution for oil and gas transportation in ultra-deepwater. Strain hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) is well known for its capacity to withstand both tensile load and external hydrostatic pressure. The sandwich pipe considered in the research is constituted of concentric steel pipes with SHCC annular layer. In the present research work, the SHCC was manufactured, and full scale sandwich pipes were assembled. Intact and damaged specimens were submitted to controlled external pressure in a hyperbaric chamber to obtain the collapse and propagation pressures, respectively. Modeling and simulation of the buckle propagation of the SPs were correlated with the experimental results. The results show that sandwich pipe with SHCC core has an excellent structural strength under high external pressure in both intact and damaged conditions. Moreover, the results also show that the interaction between the annular and the inner/outer pipes provides a significant contribution to the buckling resistance under propagation pressure.     

New simplified approach to collapse analysis of stiffened plates

A new simplified model for collapse analysis of stiffened plates is developed in the framework of the idealized structural unit method (ISUM). By idealizing material and geometrical nonlinearities, larger structural units are defined as an element in ISUM than in conventional finite element analysis (FEA). The proposed stiffened plate model consists of ISUM plate elements and beam-column elements. The formulation of the plate element is performed by introducing accurate shape functions to simulate the buckling/plastic collapse behaviour of plate panels. Combining plate and beam-column elements allows for both local buckling of the plate panel and overall buckling of the stiffener.Fundamental collapse modes of plate panels and stiffened plates are investigated by conventional FEA. According to the observed characteristics, the new simplified model is formulated. Comparisons with FEA demonstrate the accuracy of the simplified model and its high applicability to typical stiffened plates in marine structures.     

Imperfection study on lateral thermal buckling of subsea pipeline triggered by a distributed buoyancy section

Controlled lateral buckling is triggered by distributed buoyancy section at predesigned sites to release the axial force induced by high temperature and high pressure in subsea pipelines. Due to the larger diameter and smaller submerged weight of distributed buoyancy section, compared to the normal pipe section, imperfections are more easily introduced at the location of distributed buoyancy section. In this study, an analytical model is proposed to simulate lateral buckling triggered by a distributed buoyancy section for an imperfect subsea pipeline, which is validated by test data. Semi-analytical solutions are derived. First, snap-through buckling behaviour is discussed. Then the influence of initial imperfections on buckled configurations, post-buckling behaviour, displacement amplitude and maximum stress is discussed in detail. The results show that there is no snap-through phenomenon for large amplitude of initial imperfections, which appears only when the amplitude of imperfection is small enough. The displacement amplitude increases with the amplitude of initial imperfections, and it first increases and then decreases with wavelength of initial imperfection. Compared to a perfect pipeline, the maximum stress amplifies for relative small wavelength of initial imperfections. Therefore, a large enough wavelength of initial imperfection should be introduced.     

Analytical study on controlled lateral thermal buckling of antisymmetric mode for subsea pipelines triggered by sleepers

Subsea pipelines exposed to high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) conditions is susceptible to lateral buckling. In order to control lateral buckling, engineered buckle initiators, such as sleepers, are introduced to initiate planned lateral buckles along the pipeline at specific locations in order to ensure that the stress in each lateral buckle remains acceptable. In this study, taking the interaction of adjacent buckles into account, analytical solutions of antisymmetric lateral buckling mode triggered by sleepers are derived. With the proposed formulations, the method to obtain the accurate locations of lateral displacement amplitude and maxima of bending stress is presented and discussed. And a detailed comparison between symmetric and antisymmetric mode of lateral buckling triggered by single sleeper is presented. Moreover, the influence of the sleeper spacing on controlled lateral buckling behaviour with the consideration of axial interaction between adjacent buckles is conducted. Finally, a detailed analysis about the influence of the sleeper height, lateral frictional coefficient and submerged weight of the pipeline on the controlled post-buckling behaviour is presented. Our results show that, for smaller sleeper friction or smaller sleeper height, the symmetric mode is more likely to happen, while the antisymmetric mode is prone to occur for larger sleeper friction and larger sleeper height. One effective method to reduce displacement amplitude and maximum stress is to decrease the sleeper spacing. The minimum critical temperature difference decreases with increasing sleeper height and increases with increasing lateral friction coefficient or submerged weight of the pipeline. And an alternative way to reduce the maximum stress is to reduce the lateral friction coefficient or submerged weight of the pipeline even though the displacement amplitude increases.