Experimental and theoretical studies on lateral buckling of submarine pipelines. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Chengfeng; Liu, Run; Wang, Xiuyan; Hao, Xintong
• Is Part Of: Marine structures. Volume 78(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Submarine pipeline -- Global lateral buckling -- Buckling mode -- Pipeline buckling experiment -- Analytical model; Naval architecture -- Periodicals; Offshore structures -- Periodicals; Architecture navale -- Périodiques; Structures offshore -- Périodiques; Naval architecture; Offshore structures; Periodicals; 620.4162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marstruc.2021.102983
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-8339

Abstract

Abstract: Global buckling of a submarine pipeline during high pressure/high temperature (HP/HT) operation results in a loss of pipeline stability that is similar to a bar in compression; this phenomenon constitutes one of the key factors affecting pipeline integrity and design. To intuitively study the buckling response, a test system was designed that can account for thermal loading and pipe-soil interactions, and this system was used to perform a series of small-scale model tests on the lateral buckling of submarine pipelines with different initial imperfections. Based on the hat-shaped buckling profiles of the test pipelines, a new buckling mode called "hat-shaped buckling" was proposed. In an attempt to study the conditions under which the pipeline exhibits this hat-shaped buckling mode, the changing law of the buckling mode was investigated through finite element analyses of pipelines with different parameters, including the length of the pipeline and the amplitude and wavelength of the initial imperfection. Subsequently, an analytical solution for calculating the buckling amplitude of a pipeline with a hat-shaped buckling profile was proposed. The theoretical solution was compared to the experimental data, which verified the feasibility of the model in calculating pipeline buckling deformation. The experimental data, the buckling mode based on these data and the corresponding analytical model discussed herein may provide a reference for future experimental studies of pipeline buckling. Highlights: A series of model tests were performed on the lateral buckling of submarine pipelines by utilizing a designed test system. A new buckling mode named "hat-shaped" buckling was proposed on the basis of the test results; the cause and influencing factors of this "hat-shaped" buckling were studied. An analytical solution for pipelines with hat-shaped buckling was proposed.