Dissertation in:

Modelling of Offshore Structures

Study on flexible offshore

pipelines
with analytical and numerical
methods
Advisor: Candidate:
Prof. Nicholas Fantuzzi Francesco Laricchia
 SCOPE OF WORK

Study of Analytical and Numerical Modeling for Flexible Pipes

Advantages of flexible pipes

• Suitability to connect floating units

to sea bottom
• No compensation and tensioning
devices
• Capacity to provide axial stiffness
and handle with curvatures

Francesco Laricchia
 Flexible pipeline cross section

Pressure Armour Inner carcass

Internal Plastic Sheat

Anti-Wear Tape

External Plastic Tensile Armours

Sheat

Francesco Laricchia
 Analitycal Modelling
Hypothesis of small displacement of unbounded Flexible Pipes

No Frictional effect

Layer separation and bird caging

effect are allowed

Layer are allowed to move in radial

direction independently

Francesco Laricchia
 Modelling layers

Principle of virtual work

dU = dW

Isotropic layers Carcass layer

Helical Armor Layers

Francesco Laricchia
 Six-Layer model Total Riser Stiffness

Layer Type
1 Carcass Layer
2 Anti-wear Layer
3 Tensile Armour 1 (inner)
4 Anti-wear Layer
5 Tensile Armor 2 (outer)
6 Outer Sheat Layer

Francesco Laricchia
Tosolve the Total Riser System, the interlayer contact
pressure within the load matrix should be known

Francesco Laricchia
 Flow - Chart
Start

Input Initialization
Switch
Compatibility eq.
Compute to those with Gap
stiffness matrix

Keep Negative
Solve compatibility &
Interlayer
equilibrium eq. and
Pressure Zero
find interlayer
pressure YES

Detect
YES Negative NO
Convergence Output
Interlayer
pressure
NO

Update Load Matrix

Francesco Laricchia
Numerical Methods Analysis Abaqus

8-node brick, C3D8

20-node brick, C3D20

Francesco Laricchia
 Case Study

z x
500 kN axial load
Outer radius = 115 mm y
3 Mpa internal pressure

Inner radius = 92.5 mm

Lay angle for helical

armours = 35/-35 Meshed
model

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Axial stress contour plot for a cross section at the middle of the riser under:

Tensile loading (Pa) Torsional loading (Pa)

Francesco Laricchia
Impact analysis of lay angle of helical tendons

Francesco Laricchia
 Conclusion

The helical layer play a fundamental role in the stiffness of the model due to their
sensitivity to the lay angle.

It is necessary validate the model studied with the correlation, in therms of results,
between the finite element and analytical methods.

The detailed finite element model can be used as a virtual testing

machine to efficiently conduct parametric studies on the unbonded flexible
riser and predict its behavior under various loading conditions.

Using this finite element model it is possible to conduct parametric studies on the
factors that influence the strength and stiffness of risers physical experimental tests
will only be required as ‘one-off’ checks to validate the virtual model.

Francesco Laricchia
 Ideas for future studies

Material non-linearity and temperature effects can be included in analysis.

Especially, this concerns the thermoplastic sheath layers.

Validate results with cost/benefit analysis and optimization.

Adding further helical layer

Francesco Laricchia
 THANK YOU!
Francesco Laricchia