Flexible riser-bend stiffener top connection analytical model with I-tube

The flexible riser top connection to the floating unit is a critical region considering extreme loading and fatigue lifetime assessment and is generally protected by a bend stiffener to limit the curvature in this region. The top connection usually interface the floating unit with two main configurations: i) end-fitting and bend stiffener directly connected to a riser balcony or ii) riser connected to the floating unit in the end of an I-tube, which reduces the end-fitting bending loading, and bend stiffener assembled to a bellmouth with a given inclination in relation to the I-tube longitudinal axis. The traditional modeling approach considers the riser/bend stiffener system attached to the floating unit, representative of the first configuration. A more realistic modeling approach, capturing the complex interactions of flexible riser/bend stiffener with I-tube interface can be employed for preliminary assessment with less conservatism. In this work, a large deflection analytical beam model is developed for the riser top connection with I-tube considering the bellmouth transition region with a straight rigid surface followed by a curved section. The riser follows a nonlinear bending behavior described by a bilinear moment vs curvature function and the bend stiffener polyurethane material exhibits nonlinear elastic symmetric response represented by a power law function. It is assumed that there is no gap between the riser and the bend stiffener and the riser is fixed in the end-fitting position. The mathematical formulation of the statically indeterminate system results in three systems of coupled differential equations combined with the corresponding multipoint boundary conditions to be numerically solved by an iterative procedure. A case study is carried out with a 7” flexible riser protected by a bend stiffener connected to an inclined I-tube bellmouth. The system is subjected to extreme loading conditions and the influence of the sleeve shape and I-tube length on the riser curvature distribution, including the end-fitting position, and contact forces between the riser/sleeve and riser/bend stiffener sections are assessed.