University of Houston

Subsea Riser Design Course

Project Results

Adeyemi Adebajo (ID: 0242935)

Riser System Schematic
 OrcaFlex Simultion Summary
Comments
Model 1
• Downloaded the “A03 Jumper to high tower” model from Orcina website and opened in OrcaFlex
• Remove all components except the “Product Risers” 1 to 4 and the “Top Can”
• Changed diameter to 6m and run static simulation
• Effective tension and von Mises were extracted and compared with hand calculated values – see
following slides

Model 2
• Four (4) additional “Product Risers” were added to the model
• OD of all risers changed to 12.75” and thickness to 0.844”
• The static simulation did not converge, cam back with error shown below:
 Modeling Summary
Comments contd.

Model 3
• Model 2 OD increased to 8m and re-run the static simulation and the simulation ran successfully!
– The increased OD increased the top tension (the lift force) to prevent buckling – this explains
why the model ran successfully
 OrcaFlex Plots (Screenshots)
OrcaFlex 11.2d: A03 Jumper to high tower_PROJECT FILE.dat (modif ied 11:49 AM on 12/4/2022 by OrcaFlex 11.2d)
Range graph: Product Riser1 Ef f ectiv e tension, Static state

Effective Tension
Ef f ectiv e tensionvs Riser LengthCompression limit
Allowable tension Von Mises Stress vs Riser Length
2000
Product Riser1 Effective tension (kN), Static state

1900

1800

1700

1600

1500

1400

1300
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Arc length (m)

Comments
• Effective tension and von Mises stress varies along
the length of the riser
• Static calculations
– Wind, current and waves effects negligible
 OrcaFlex Plots

Bending Moment from OrcaFlex is almost ZERO

Basis for Bending Moment in Hand Calculation

• Based on the OrcaFlex profile for BM on static simulation, the BM used for hand calculation = 0
 OrcaFlex vs Hand Calculation Plots – Effective Tension

Comments
• 100% match of OrcaFlex calculated effective
tension and hand calculated values
• Hand calculated top tension divided by 4
(number of risers) before using in the
computation
• NOTE: End B is 0.52m above seabed (see
schematic); Riser Length = Water Depth – 79.48
 OrcaFlex vs Hand Calculation Plots – von Mises Stress

Comments
• Good match of OrcaFlex calculated von Mises
stress and hand calculated values
• Internal & external von Mises stresses are same
because environmental conditions (waves, current
and wind were made negligible in the model)
• NOTE: End B is 0.52m above seabed (see
schematic); Riser Length = Water Depth – 79.48