A Singular Perturbation Method for Parametric Investigation on J-lay Installation of Deepwater Pipelines

The maximum bending moment or curvature in the neighborhood of the touch down point (TDP) and the maximum tension at the top are two key parameters to be controlled during deepwater J-lay installation in order to ensure the safety of the pipe-laying operation and the normal operation of the pipelines. In this paper, the non-linear governing differential equation for getting the two parameters during J-lay installation is proposed and solved by use of singular perturbation technique, from which the asymptotic expression of stiffened catenary is obtained and the theoretical expression of its static geometric configuration as well as axial tension and bending moment is derived. Finite element results are applied to verify this method. Parametric investigation is conducted to analyze the influences of the seabed slope, unit weight, flexural stiffness, water depth, and the pipe-laying tower angle on the maximum tension and moment of pipeline by this method, and the results show how to control the installation process by changing individual parameters.     

Small- and large-scale model tests on the buckling property of slender pile

Slender piles embedded in soft ground or liquefied soil may buckle under vertical load. In this paper, both small- and large-scale model tests are conducted to investigate the buckling mechanisms of a slender pile and the lateral earth pressure acting on the pile. To observe the buckling of a slender pile, the strain-controlled loading method is adopted to apply a vertical load. When the two ends of a slender pile are hinged, the buckling mechanisms of small- and large-scale model tests are same. It should be noted that this applies only to a system with a small ratio of pile bending stiffness to soil bending stiffness. An applied vertical load increases with an increasing pile head settlement until it reaches the critical buckling load. By further increasing the pile head settlement, the measured load approaches the critical buckling load. In the large-scale model test, the measured lateral earth pressure (i.e., active and passive) acting on the slender pile varies linearly with the lateral pile displacement when the measured range is 3–5?m beneath the ground. A critical buckling calculation method has been adopted to compare with the conventional “m” method. The two-sided earth pressure calculation method can achieve more approximate results with the model test.     

柔性管卷管式铺管上卷有限元模拟

采用卷管法进行海底管道铺设过程中,管道首先通过牵引作用上卷于卷筒进行储存。管道与卷筒发生非线性接触,可能会产生复杂的塑性变形和局部屈曲。通过全尺寸柔性管力学性能试验获得柔性管轴力—应变以及弯曲—曲率等非线性力学性能关系,将试验所得的非线性材料性能参数导入建立的两种柔性管上卷ABAQUS有限元模型（梁—实体单元模型与壳和桁架—实体单元模型）,实现柔性管较大轴向抗拉刚度和较小抗弯刚度的同步模拟以及管道与卷筒的非线性接触响应特征。通过对比分析两种有限元模型数值模拟得到的管道弯矩、弯曲曲率、管道轴力、管道与卷筒的接触压强等数据,发现在管道上卷过程中管道沿副法线方向的SM3弯矩占据其弯曲变形主导地位;管道与卷筒之间的摩擦效应对于管道轴力的影响较为显著;管道与卷筒的最大接触压强主要发生在卷管过渡段区域。     

Effect of geometric and material discontinuities on the reeling of pipelines

The winding and unwinding of a pipeline onto a large diameter reel as practiced in the reeling installation method, induces bending strains of 1–3% followed by straightening, and reverse bending. The operator must ensure that such plastic deformations are sustained free of local buckling or rupture in the line. Such failures are for example precipitated by pipeline discontinuities in wall thickness and yield stress as they act as stress risers, lead to localized deformations severe enough to result in local buckling. The effect of such discontinuities is studied using a large-scale nonlinear finite element model that simulates the reeling/unreeling of a pipeline. Nonlinear kinematic hardening is used to capture the elasto-plastic behavior of the material imposed by the bending/reverse bending history. Discontinuities in wall thickness and yield stress are shown to result in sharp local changes in curvature that extend over 3–4 pipe diameters accompanied by severe local straining and ovalization. The extent of the disturbance is governed by the bending strain imposed by the ratio of pipe to reel diameter. It can be reduced by an increase in the applied tension but at the expense of additional ovalization of the pipeline. It can also be reduced by increasing the pipe wall thickness but with the consequent increase in costs. A parametric study of the effect of such discontinuities demonstrates that for some combinations of process parameters, the disturbance can lead to local buckling either during winding or unwinding. It is concluded that a modeling framework such as the one presented should be used to generate a design protocol for reel-installed pipelines.     

Effect of Longitudinal Plastic Bending of Pipeline on Buckle Propagation Pressure

A plastic ring-beam model simulating the longitudinal transition zone of submarine pipelines in the buckle propagation is presented. The nonlinear relationships between the buckle propagation pressure and the length of the transition zone and the position parameter of the longitudinal plastic hinge are derived using the energy principle. The related values are obtained by means of solving a set of nonlinear equations. The model conforms better to reality than the ring models for considering the effect of the longitudinal plastic bending of the transition zone. The computations for some stainless steel and aluminium tubes with different geometrical parameters are performed. The results obtained agree better with the experimental results than existing theoretical predictions.     

基于ABAQUS的海底管道静水压溃压力的敏感性分析

局部屈曲压溃是海底管道发生稳定性破坏的一种形式,随着管道的刚度相对越来越柔,厚度相对越来越薄,管道发生屈曲压溃的问题也越来越突出。运用ABAQUS有限元分析软件进行管道的非线性屈曲分析,确定不同径厚比、初始椭圆度、轴向拉力和弯矩作用下的管道静水压溃压力,以分析静水压溃压力对这些因素的敏感性。     

Plastic buckling of ring-stiffened conical shells under external hydrostatic pressure

The paper describes experimental tests carried out on three ring-stiffened cones that were tested to destruction under external hydrostatic pressure. The cones were carefully machined from EN1A Steel. All three cones failed by plastic non-symmetric bifurcation buckling in a mode commonly known as general instability. In this mode the entire ring-shell combination buckles bodily.The paper also provides a design chart using the results obtained from these three vessels, together with the results of six other vessels obtained from other tests. The design chart allows the possibility of obtaining a plastic knock down factor, so that the theoretical buckling pressures, based on elastic theory, can be divided by the plastic knockdown factor, to give the predicted buckling pressure. This method can also be used for the design of full-scale vessels.     

Nonlinear joint flexibility element for the modeling of jacket-type offshore platforms

A new nonlinear two-dimensional tubular joint element is developed in this study on the basis of flexibility equations and the interaction between the axial force and the in-plane bending moment in the joint. Empirical equations are used to define the joint yielding in the axial direction and the in-plane rotation. An elastic-perfectly plastic yield function is adopted to include the combined effects of axial loads and bending moments on the yielding of the joint. The element formulation is straightforward, and it can readily be implemented in nonlinear finite element programs. Verification studies are carried out for the element to prove its suitability for the modeling of tubular joints of offshore jacket structures. It is concluded that the nonlinear joint model that has been developed produces accurate results, verified against experimental data as well as against sophisticated multi-axial finite element joint models.     

Model test based soil spring model and application in pipeline thermal buckling analysis

The buckling of submarine pipelines may occur due to the action of axial soil frictional force caused by relative movement of soil and pipeline, which is induced by the thermal and internal pressure. The likelihood of occurrence of this buckling phenomenon is largely determined by soil resistance. A series of large-scale model tests were carried out to facilitate the establishment of substantial data base for a variety of burial pipeline relationships. Based on the test data, nonlinear soil spring can be adopted to simulate the soil behavior during the pipeline movement. For uplift resistance, an ideal elasticity plasticity model is recommended in the case of H/D (depth-to-diameter ratio)>5 and an elasticity softened model is recommended in the case of H/D≤5. The soil resistance along the pipeline axial direction can be simulated by an ideal elasticity plasticity model. The numerical analyzing results show that the capacity of pipeline against thermal buckling decreases with its initial imperfection enlargement and increases with the burial depth enhancement.     

非对称局部壁厚减薄海底管道的屈曲分析

在深海环境中,海底管线不仅承受较高外压,还会因为海水及运输介质的常年侵蚀而形成腐蚀缺陷,而腐蚀缺陷往往会导致管道的外压承载力下降。基于壳体稳定性理论,建立了含有非对称局部壁厚减薄管道在外压作用下的屈曲压力理论公式。公式具有广泛的适用性,当内、外局部壁厚减薄深度相等时,可用于计算含有对称局部壁厚减薄管道屈曲压力,而当内部或外部缺陷深度为零时,便可用于计算只含外部或者内部腐蚀缺陷的管道屈曲压力。通过有限元分析验证了该公式的正确性,结果表明公式可以准确预测不同缺陷位置及尺寸时管道的屈曲压力。详细研究了局部壁厚减薄缺陷位置、长度和深度等参数对屈曲压力的影响。研究表明,局部腐蚀对管道的屈曲压力产生重要影响,尤其当腐蚀角度和深度较大时,在腐蚀形成初期就会造成管道的承载力急剧下降,并且管道的屈曲压力与缺陷的径向位置有关,腐蚀缺陷位于管道外侧时的屈曲压力明显大于其位于管道内侧时的屈曲压力。     

海底管线水平向整体屈曲及失效判断方法研究

海底管线是海洋石油的重要输运手段。为满足输送工艺的需要,正常工作条件下管线往往被施加较高的温度和压强,高温高压使管线内产生附加应力,当附加应力大于土体对管线的约束力时,管线就会发生整体屈曲。过度的水平向整体屈曲会导致截面产生较大的弯曲应力和压缩应变,对管线系统的安全运行造成威胁,因此需要对发生水平向整体屈曲后的管线进行验算。采用解析解法、规范法和有限元法对管线的整体屈曲进行分析,提出了应用临界屈曲荷载值域空间和值域下限来判断不同缺陷大小下管线是否发生水平向整体屈曲的方法。结合工程实例,分别采用内力控制标准和位移控制标准对管线水平向整体屈曲后是否失效进行了验算。研究指出,相较于位移标准,内力控制标准更为严格。     

水下环肋圆柱壳弹性失稳临界载荷无损预报方法

基于振动的水下环肋圆柱壳临界载荷的预报具有结构无损的优势。以Flügge壳体理论和基于正交各向异性理论的环肋圆柱壳自由振动方程为基础,运用波传播法得出耦合系统的频率方程,并求出对应外压下的固有频率,通过最小二乘法线性拟合获得临界载荷、外压及固有频率的关系表达式。绘图得知任意边界的同一模态下,水下环肋圆柱壳的固有频率平方与静水压力成正比。结构失稳时,刚度丧失,固有频率降为零,据此求出水下环肋圆柱壳的最小弹性临界载荷。分析了不同边界条件对环肋圆柱壳临界载荷的影响,得知边界约束越强,环肋圆柱壳的临界载荷越大。结果对比表明了本方法的正确性,为水下环肋圆柱壳的固有频率及临界载荷的理论计算提供了一种新的方法。     

Numerical analysis of cross-section ovalization in the deep-sea pipeline lateral buckling process

Abstract

The deep-water pipeline is the main means of transportation in offshore oil and gas development engineering. The deep-water pipeline may incur lateral global buckling due to the high temperature and pressure that are applied on the pipeline to ensure the contents’ liquidity. With the increasing operating water depth, a higher temperature and pressure are applied to the pipeline, causing large lateral deformation and a large bending moment. Due to the inhomogeneous distribution of the bending moment on the cross-section, different points on the cross-section will deform differently. This kind of deformation causes the cross-section to turn into an oval ring. The cross-section ovalization caused by global buckling was rarely analyzed in former engineering practice since the load is relatively low. With the increase in operation water depth and operation load, the ovality caused by global buckling is noticeable. This article analyzed cross-section ovalization caused by pipeline lateral global buckling with a numerical simulation method. The pipelines with different initial cross-section shapes were simulated, and the influence of several impact factors, including load, pipeline and soil factors on the ovality of the cross-section, were analyzed. The results show that the initial cross-section shape type has little effect on the pipeline ovalization pattern. The initial ovality of the pipeline with an oval ring cross-section shape has little influence on the residual ovality. Among all the factors analyzed in this paper, the pressure difference is the primary factor that should be considered in a pipeline ovalization check.     

Inelastic buckling of thick-walled circular conical shells under external hydrostatic pressure

The paper reports on a theoretical and an experimental study into the collapse of three thick-walled circular conical shells, which were tested to failure under external hydrostatic pressure. All three vessels failed by plastic non-symmetric bifurcation buckling. Two theoretical analyses were carried out, both based on the finite element method. One of the theoretical analyses was based on inelastic non-symmetric bifurcation buckling and the other analysis was based on plastic axisymmetric buckling. Both of these theoretical analysis and the experimental observations appeared to indicate that there is a link between plastic non-symmetric bifurcation buckling and plastic axisymmetric buckling.     

The Influence of Residual Stress on Plastic Buckling of Cylindrical Shells

-This paper adopts approximate formulas for residual stresses caused by cold bending for plates with stress-strain curve form a = K n. A typical distribution of the longitudinal residual stress due to welding is also assumed. The effects of residual stress due to cold bending and welding on plastic buckling of axially compressed cylindrical shells are studied by the finite element method.     

Impact Buckling and Post-Buckling of Elasto-Viscoplastic Cylindrical Shell Under Torsion

The dynamic torsional buckling and post-buckling of elasto-plastic circular cylindrical shell isstudied.By the usage of the Bodner-Partom constitutive relation,the present visco-plastic problem is treat-ed as an orthotropic elastic problem.Based on the nonlinear large deflection shell therory,the governingdynamic buckling equation is solved by the Runge-Kutta method,and the critical buckling stress is deter-mined by the B-R criterion.The present paper is mainly focused on the imperfection sensitivity,the strainrate sensitivity,and the dynamic post-buckling characters for the shell loaded dynamically with a constantshear strain rate.Numerical results show that the critical shear stress and imperfection sensitivity will in-crease with the increase of strain rate.It is found that the elastic buckling stress is more sensitive toimperfection than the visco-plastic buckling.The present research also reveals some dynamic post-bucklingcharacters for the cylindrical shell,and it is shown that the shell will vibra     

载人潜水器圆柱形耐压壳体的优化设计研究

采用分枝定界法和序列二次规划方法,对载人潜水器圆柱形耐压壳体的重量最小化进行了研究.设计变量是壳板的厚度、肋骨的型号、间距和数量,讨论了下潜深度、材料几何参数对重量以及其它特征量的影响.算例计算表明,下潜深度越大,屈服极限越高的材料重量减轻越明显.对于大深度而言,选用高屈服极限材料,可以使得材料能够充分利用.文中还对结构重量占排水量比例随深度变化的情况进行了研究.     

Lateral Global Buckling of Submarine Pipelines Based on the Model of Nonlinear Pipe–Soil Interaction

With the increasing development and utilization of offshore oil and gas resources, global buckling failures of pipelines subjected to high temperature and high pressure are becoming increasingly important. For unburied or semi-buried submarine pipelines, lateral global buckling represents the main form of global buckling. The pipe–soil interaction determines the deformation and stress distribution of buckling pipelines. In this paper, the nonlinear pipe–soil interaction model is introduced into the analysis of pipeline lateral global buckling, a coupling method of PSI elements and the modified RIKS algorithm is proposed to study the lateral global buckling of a pipeline, and the buckling characteristics of submarine pipeline with a single arch symmetric initial imperfection under different pipe–soil interaction models are studied. Research shows that, compared with the ideal elastic–plastic pipe–soil interaction model, when the DNV-RP-F109 model is adopted to simulate the lateral pipe–soil interactions in the lateral global buckling of a pipeline, the buckling amplitude increases, however, the critical buckling force and the initial buckling temperature difference decreases. In the DNV-RP-F109 pipe–soil interaction model, the maximum soil resistance, the residual soil resistance, and the displacement to reach the maximum soil resistance have significant effects on the analysis results of pipeline global buckling.     

New Method for Predicting the Motion Responses of A Flexible Joint Multi-Body Floating System to Irregular Waves

A new hybrid method of frequency domain and time domain is developed in this paper to predict the motion responses of a flexibly joint multi-body floating system to irregular waves. The main idea of the method is that the three-dimensional frequency method is used to obtain the hydrodynamic coefficients and the response equations are solved in time domain step by step. All the forces can be obtained at the same time. The motions and nonlinear mooring forces of a box type six-body floating system are predicted. A comparison of the theoretical method-based solutions with experimental results has shown good agreement.     

Long waves dissipation and harmonic generation by coastal vegetation

In this paper, we study the harmonic generation and energy dissipation as water waves propagating through coastal vegetation. Applying the homogenization theory, linear wave models have been developed for a heterogeneous coastal forest in previous works (e.g. [17], [10], [11]). In this study, the weakly nonlinear effects are investigated. The coastal forest is modeled by an array of rigid and vertically surface-piercing cylinders. Assuming monochromatic waves with weak nonlinearity incident upon the forest, higher harmonic waves are expected to be generated and radiated into open water. Using the multi-scale perturbation theory, micro-scale flows in the vicinity of cylinders and macro-scale wave dynamics are separated. Expressing the unknown variables (e.g. velocity, free surface elevation) as a superposition of different harmonic components, the governing equations for each mode are derived while different harmonics are interacting with each other because of nonlinearity in the cell problem. Different from the linear models, the leading-order cell problem for micro-scale flow motion, driven by the macro-scale pressure gradient, is now a nonlinear boundary-value-problem, while the wavelength-scale problem for wave dynamics remains linear. A modified pressure correction method is employed to solve the nonlinear cell problem. An iterative scheme is introduced to connect the micro-scale and macro-scale problems. To demonstrate the theoretical results, we consider incident waves scattered by a homogeneous forest belt in a constant shallow depth. Higher harmonic waves are generated within the cylinder array and radiated out to the open water region. The comparisons of numerical results obtained by linear and nonlinear models are presented and the behavior of different harmonic components is discussed. The effects of different physical parameters on wave solutions are discussed as well.