Simplified Method for Identification of Free Spans on Submarine Pipelines
Aline Esperança de Sá Freitas1; Bruno Martins Jacovazzo1; Carl Horst Albrecht1; Juliana Souza Baioco1; Breno Pinheiro Jacob1
1 Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
doi:10.20906/CPS/CILAMCE2015-0145
Resumo
It is well known that, after a submarine pipeline is laid over the seabed, free spans may appear due to the unevenness of the seafloor, associated to the relatively high bending stiffness of the pipe, and to the residual tension from the pipe laying process. In order to numerically determine the final equilibrium configuration of a pipeline laying on the seabed after its installation procedure, a numerical tool has been developed (Jacovazzo et al., 2013). The tool is based on global Finite Elements models, and simulates the evolution of the pipe laying process along a predetermined route, using the actual seabottom bathymetry data. However, the use of numerical tools may be computationally expensive in some cases. In this context, this work describes the development of a simplified method (called Spinning Circle Method) to determine the final equilibrium configuration of a pipeline laying on the seabed after its installation procedure. A parametric study has been performed to compare results obtained by the Spinning Circle Method and the Finite Elements numerical tool for several pipe sections.
Palavras-chave: Spinning Circle Method; Submarine pipelines; Free spans