Techno Press
Techno Press

Ocean Systems Engineering
  Volume 6, Number 1, March 2016 , pages 99-115
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/ose.2016.6.1.099
 

Parameters study on lateral buckling of submarine PIP pipelines
Xinhu Zhang, Menglan Duan, Yingying Wang and Tongtong Li

 
Abstract
    In meeting the technical needs for deepwater conditions and overcoming the shortfalls of single-layer pipes for deepwater applications, pipe-in-pipe (PIP) systems have been developed. While, for PIP pipelines directly laid on the seabed or with partial embedment, one of the primary service risks is lateral buckling. The critical axial force is a key factor governing the global lateral buckling response that has been paid much more attention. It is influenced by global imperfections, submerged weight, stiffness, pipe-soil interaction characteristics, et al. In this study, Finite Element Models for imperfect PIP systems are established on the basis of 3D beam element and tube-to-tube element in Abaqus. A parameter study was conducted to investigate the effects of these parameters on the critical axial force and post-buckling forms. These parameters include structural parameters such as imperfections, clearance, and bulkhead spacing, pipe/soil interaction parameter, for instance, axial and lateral friction properties between pipeline and seabed, and load parameter submerged weight. Python as a programming language is been used to realize parametric modeling in Abaqus. Some conclusions are obtained which can provide a guide for the design of PIP pipelines.
 
Key Words
    lateral buckling; PIP; parameter analysis; numerical model
 
Address
Xinhu Zhang, Menglan Duan, Yingying Wang and Tongtong Li: Offshore Oil and Gas Research Center, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, 18 Fuxue Road, Changping, Republic of China;
College of Mechanical and Transportation Engineering, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, 18 Fuxue Road, Changping, Republic of China
 

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