MSc in Subsea Engineering

Flexible Pipe Analysis

John Picksley, C.Eng, Discipline Technical Authority, Wood

EG55F9 Riser Systems and Hydrodynamics

MSc in Subsea Engineering

Presentation Overview

1. Introduction to flexible pipe

2. Material selection & layer function
3. Design process & functional
requirements
▪ Local structural cross-section design
4. Global static and dynamic analysis
5. Fatigue analysis

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1.1 Introduction to Flexible Pipe

• What is a Flexible Pipe?

– Composite cross-section
comprised of steel, polymer,
insulation and tape layers
– Bending stiffness << Axial
stiffness (i.e. bends readily but
does not elongate readily)
– has a defined Minimum Bend
Radius (MBR)
– Designed to operate under
positive tension

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1.2 Types of Flexible Pipe

• Unbonded
– Steel and plastic layers can
slide relative to each other
when subject to bending
– Annulus venting
– Used for most high pressure
oil/gas/condensate field
service worldwide
– Main focus of this course

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1.3 Types of Flexible Pipe

• Bonded
– Pipe wall construction is a
vulcanized rubber/wire matrix
– No gas in bore fluid
• No annulus venting system
– Often used for low pressure,
treated oil/water service
– Used for some high pressure
service, but typically not for
multiphase flow or for riser
service

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1.4 Types of Flexible Pipe

• Thermoplastic Composite Pipe
– Emerging competitor to unbonded pipe
– Smooth bore, bonded structure
– Liner and jacket layers as per
unbonded
– Non-metallic reinforcement
– Aramid, Carbon Fibre,
Polyester
– Impervious to corrosion
– Lightweight
– More limited MBR
– No annulus venting system
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1.5 Types of Flexible Pipe

Unbonded Pipe Bonded Pipe Thermoplastic
Composite Pipe
Design & Manufacturing API 17J API 17K API 15S
Specification ISO 13628-2 ISO 13628-10 DNVGL-ST-F119

Applications Risers, Flowlines, Jumpers Mainly jumpers Mainly flowlines and

jumpers

Functions Production, Injection, Export Production (no gas), Production, Injection,

Injection, Export Export

Suppliers NOV Flexibles (formerly NKT), Contitech (formerly Taurus Strohm (formerly
TechnipFMC (formerly Emerge, Phoenix Beattie, Airborne O&G)
Coflexip), Dunlop Oil & Marine) Deepflex
Baker Hughes (formerly Magma
Wellstream
Manufacturing Length Continuous length typically < 100m sections Continuous length
Capability several km typically several km

Inner Diameter / Pressure 16-inch / 4,000psi 16-inch / 800psi 7.5-inch / 10,000psi

Capability 7.5-inch / 10,000psi 2.5-inch / 5,000psi
2.5-inch / 15,000psi

EG55F9 Riser Systems and Hydrodynamics

MSc in Subsea Engineering

1.6 Flexible Pipe Applications

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MSc in Subsea Engineering

1.7 Advantages of Flexible Pipe

• Flexibility
– Possible to spool pipe on reel or carousel
for efficient and quick transportation
– Ease to lay on difficult seabed conditions
– Typical 8” ID flex pipe can safely bend to
radius of 6.5ft/2m or less

• Installability
– Fast Lay Speed: Continuous length
allows for about 1,600ft / 500 m per hour
– Deck installation of separate sections
implies fewer subsea connections
– Reduced survey accuracy

• Modularity
– Independent layers enable layer design
to meet needs of specific environment
– Typically 4 to 19 layers, depending on
complexity and environment
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1.7 Flexible Pipe Limits (typical)

– Pressure 10,000psi for 7.5” ID (GoM)
5,000psi for 12” ID (sour service)
– Temperature -50degC to +130degC
– ID 2” to 19” for dynamic application
– Max Continuous 17km for 2” ID
Length 10km for 4” ID
4.5km for 12” ID
– Water Depth 3000m for 6” ID
2500m for 12” ID
1500m for 16” ID
– Deepest Dynamic Riser: 2,280m, 6”
– Deepest Flowline: 3,048m, 7”
EG55F9 Riser Systems and Hydrodynamics
MSc in Subsea Engineering
1.8 Flexible Pipe Limits:
SureFlex JIP 2023 – Water Depth x Internal Diameter

EG55F9 Riser Systems and Hydrodynamics

MSc in Subsea Engineering
1.9 Flexible Pipe Limits:
SureFlex JIP 2023 – Design Pressure x Internal Diameter

EG55F9 Riser Systems and Hydrodynamics

MSc in Subsea Engineering

1.10 Flexible Riser Configurations

PLIANT / TETHERED WAVE

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2.1 Material Selection

▪ Flexible pipe cross-section
comprised of steel, polymer,
insulation and tape materials

▪ Steel
▪ Load resistance
▪ Carcass
▪ Pressure armour(s)
▪ Tensile armours

▪ Polymer
▪ Internal pressure sheath
▪ External pressure sheath
▪ Intermediate (optional)
▪ Anti-wear layers

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2.2 Steel Materials - Carcass

▪ Carcass
▪ Typically stainless steel
▪ Different grades available
▪ AISI grades 304, 304L, 316, 316L
▪ Duplex or Super Duplex (25% Cr)
▪ Selection criteria
▪ Bore fluid chemistry (i.e. oxygen,
chlorides, H2S, CO2, injection
chemicals, well service fluids)
▪ Water depth
▪ Interlocking profile is formed from
flat strip during manufacture
▪ Evolving ‘smooth’ carcass profile
▪ Eliminate FLIP in dry gas applications
▪ Requires additional insert layer

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2.3 Steel Materials – Armours

▪ Pressure and Tensile Armour
Wires
▪ Typically carbon steels
▪ Range of steel grades available

▪ ‘Sweet’ or ‘Sour’ service

▪ Function of H2S content (or CO2)
▪ Large impact on steel selection
▪ ‘Sweet’ wire UTS typically 1400MPa
(200ksi)
▪ ‘Sour’ wire UTS typically 750MPa
(105ksi)
▪ Hence, sour service pipes require
additional steel layers for same
stress utilizations

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2.4 Polymer Materials

▪ Internal and External Sheaths
▪ Provide internal and external fluid
integrity
▪ Internal sheath is exposed to bore fluid
(carcass layer non-pressure retaining)
▪ Temperature and exposure concentrations
are key design drivers
▪ Manufacturers qualify new polymer grades
▪ Some typical properties…..

Physical Property PA-11 HDPE XLPE PVDF

Maximum Temperature (°C) 65 [150°F] 60 90 130 [265°F]

Allowable dynamic strain (%) 7.7 7.0 7.0 3.5

Modulus of Elasticity (MPa) 260 700 800 950
Tensile strength (MPa) 55 30 30 40
Thermal Conductivity (W/mK) 0.33 0.35 0.35 0.17

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2.5 Layer Function

Carcass (Stainless Steel)
– External Pressure Resistance
Carcass Profile:

Internal Sheath (Polymer)

– Internal Fluid Containment Barrier

Pressure Armor (Carbon Steel)

– Hoop Load Resistance
Armor Profile:

Tensile Armor (Carbon Steel)

– Tensile Load Resistance

External Sheath (Polymer)

– External Fluid Barrier
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2.6 End Fitting Design

▪ Critical issues:
▪ Manufacturing tolerances in
terms of:
▪ Pressure sheath and sealing
ring dimensions
▪ Pressure armor termination
▪ Bolt torque

▪ Annulus venting integrity

▪ Permeated annulus gas
vented off via vent ports

▪ Epoxy Filling
▪ Ensure no air gaps

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2.7 Example Flexible Pipe

Layer No. Description Mass (kg/m) ID (mm) Thickness (mm)
1 Internal carcass 22.3 203.2 7.5
• Design Pressure =
193 bar
2 PA11 internal sheath 4.4 218.2 5.6
3 Pressure armour 39.5 229.4 8.0
• Design Temperature
= 60 degC
4 Anti-wear tape 1.2 245.4 1.5
5 Tensile armour layer 1 16.9 248.4 3.0
6 Anti-wear tape 1.3 254.4 1.5
7 Tensile armour layer 2 17.4 257.4 3.0
8 Tape 0.7 263.4 1.65
9 PA11 external sheath 6.3 266.7 7.0
Diameter: outside (mm) 280.7 • Typical data as
Weight in air, empty (kg/m) 109.94 provided by
Weight in air, full of seawater (kg/m) 145.36 manufacturer
Pressure: Nominal bursting (bar) 624
• Example pipe will be
Pressure: Hydrostatic collapse (bar) 121
used to demonstrate
Damaging pull in a straight line (kN) 3516.7
simplified
Minimum bend radius, for Storage (m) 1.82
relationships
Bending stiffness, at 20degC (kN.m2) 21.04
Relative Elongation for 50kN (%) 0.014

EG55F9 Riser Systems and Hydrodynamics

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3.1 Flexible Riser Design Process

Functional
Material Selection
Requirements

Local x-section Design Software

Tools

Global System Design

Component Design

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3.2 Functional Requirements

▪ Define functional requirements & Design Parameters
▪ Internal Diameter
▪ Length
▪ Flow assurance characteristics
▪ Service Life
▪ Internal fluid parameters
▪ Pressure
▪ Temperature
▪ Fluid composition (sweet or sour)
▪ External environment
▪ Water depth
▪ Wind/wave/currents
▪ Previous revision of 17J adopted as
ISO-13628-2

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3.3 Design Codes & Criteria

▪ Allowable Design Criteria defined in Table 6 of API 17J for all
service conditions:
▪ Normal & Extreme Operation
▪ Abnormal Operation
▪ Installation
▪ Factory Acceptance Testing

▪ Pipe layers
▪ Carcass
▪ Buckling load
▪ Armors
▪ Wire stress utilizations
Armor Wire Normal Extreme & Factory
▪ Utilisation = actual stress / allowable Abnormal Test
minimum yield stress utilization (%)
▪ Polymer Layers Pressure 0.67 0.85 0.91
▪ strain Tensile 0.67 0.85 0.91

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3.4 Structural Design - External Pressure and

Collapse Resistance

▪ Mainly provided by internal carcass

(rough bore pipes)
▪ Pressure armour also contributes to
collapse resistance provided the external
sheath is intact
▪ If not, hydrostatic loads act on outside of internal
sheath and must be resisted by carcass alone
▪ May require intermediate sheath to ensure pressure
armor does contribute
=> dual annulus
▪ Installation Loads
▪ Resist crushing loads due to caterpillar

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3.5 Design - Internal Pressure

▪ Pressure Armor
▪ Wound outside of internal pressure sheath
▪ Interlocking wire(s) allows bending flexibility
and control gap to prevent sheath extrusion

▪ Wound at ~89° to longitudinal axis

▪ Resists hoop stress from Pint
▪ Back-up Pressure layer
▪ May be required for high pressure
applications
▪ Flat ‘spiral’ (non-interlocking)
Pint

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3.6 Structural Design - Tensile Load
Resistance

▪ Tensile armors (or ‘tendons’) cross-wound in pairs

for torsional balance
▪ Flat rectangular wires (but chamfered edges ↓ stress
concentration)
▪ Typically laid at 30° - 55° to longitudinal axis
▪ External sheath extruded on top of tensile armor wires

▪ Support weight of all layers and transfer to end-fitting

▪ Some contribution to hoop stress resistance,
depending on lay angle
▪ Deepwater applications may require multiple pairs to
resist high tensions

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3.7 Cross Section Design & Analysis

▪ Two types of model used in industry
▪ 1. Axi-symmetric model:
▪ Developed to calculate stresses,
interlayer pressure and deflections
in each layer
▪ Theory based on static equilibrium
and strain compatibility
▪ Assume continuity of:
▪ contact pressures
▪ radial displacements
▪ elongations / torque
▪ 2. Bending model
▪ Accounts for stick-slip behaviour of
wires (hysteresis)
▪ Used to determine stresses due to
bending

▪ Simplified analytical formula from FPS2000 JIP

▪ https://www.sintef.no/en/ocean/handbook-on-design-and-operation-of-flexible-pipes/

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3.7.1 Example Flexible Pipe

Layer Description Mass (kg/m) ID (mm) Thickness
No. (mm) • Tensile armour carbon steel
properties:
1 Internal carcass 22.3 203.2 7.5 – UTS = 1400 MPa TA
2 PA11 internal sheath 4.4 218.2 5.6 – Density = 7800 kg/m^3
3 Pressure armour (UTS=1000 MPa) 39.5 229.4 8.0 • No information on
– tensile armour wire width
4 Anti-wear tape 1.2 245.4 1.5 – No. off tensile amours
5 Tensile armour layer 1 (35.0°) 16.9 248.4 3.0
6 Anti-wear tape 1.3 254.4 1.5  Armour layer 1
– mair = 16.9 kg/m
7 Tensile armour layer 2 (-35.0°) 17.4 257.4 3.0 – IDlayer1 = 248.4 mm
8 Tape 0.7 263.4 1.65 – ODlayer1 = 254.4 mm
 Layer volume = π/4 . (OD^2 –
9 PA11 external sheath 6.3 266.7 7.0 ID^2) = 0.00237 m^3/m
Diameter: outside (mm) 280.7 • If wires occupied 100% of layer,
Weight in air, empty (kg/m) 109.94 then layer mass would be:
– Mass = Density (kg/m^3) .
Weight in air, full of seawater (kg/m) 145.36 Volume (m^3/m)
Pressure: Nominal bursting (bar) 624 – Mass = 18.49 kg/m
Pressure: Hydrostatic collapse (bar) 121 • But we know mass = 16.9kg/m,
Damaging pull in a straight line (kN) 3516.7
hence Fraction filled (Ff) is
– 16.9/18.49 = 0.914
Minimum bend radius, for Storage (m) 1.82 • Similarly,
Bending stiffness, at 20degC (kN.m2) 21.04 – Armour layer 2 Ff = 0.909
Torsional stiffness (kN.m2/rad) 3100
– Pressure armour Ff = 0.849
Relative Elongation for 50kN (%) 0.014

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Wire Stress Calculations

 axp

w
Flexible Pipeline Axis

w
 w tw cos =  axp t
cos
 w cos2  =  axp


 hp
w
 w tw sin  =  hp t
sin 
 w sin 2  =  hp w

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3.7.2 Axial Loading

▪ Consider pipe subject
to axial load
▪ Helically wound tensile
armours provide axial
resistance
▪ Input data = 1.162m
▪ Lay angle α
▪ Layer radius = 1.418m

▪ Wire dimensions & No. of

wires, OR fraction filled
▪ Mass of wire layer (kg/m)

▪ Axial resistance from all resisting layers, Na, must equal the
true wall tension, Tw

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3.7.3 Axial Loading

▪ Formula can be re-arranged to estimate mean wire stress
as follows: where:
▪ Tw = true wall tension
▪ σt = stress in each tendon
▪ n = total number of tendons
▪ At = total area of tendons
▪ α = lay angle

▪ Or, if n is unknown (as in our case)

▪ If Tw = 1000kN (~102Te)
▪ and we know t = 0.006m, r = 0.12795m, Ff = 0.9115, then
▪ Stress in each wire, σt = 339 MPa
▪ UTS is 1400 MPa, hence stress utilisation is 0.24 => compare with allowable

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3.7.4 Contact Pressure

▪ When subjected to axial tension, the armour wire/tendon
angle will tend to decrease
▪ However, this is prevented by the support of the underlying
layers:
▪ Pressure armour
▪ Carcass
▪ The external pressure, pt, exerted on these layers created
by the axial force may be approximated using:-
where:
▪ Tw = true wall tension
▪ tan = tangent
▪ α = lay angle
▪ R = mean radius of
armour layers
▪ If Tw = 1000kN (~102Te)
▪ and we know R = 0.12795m, α = 35deg then
▪ Contact pressure is , pt = 5 MPa = 50 bar

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3.7.5 Internal Pressure

▪ When subjected to internal pressure, the loads will be carried by the armour
wire/tendons and pressure armour
▪ Helical tendon contribution to burst pressure resistance, ph

▪ Pressure armour contribution to burst pressure resistance, pp

where:
▪ t = total thickness of pressure amour layer

▪ For our example pipe (with UTS = 1000 MPa)

▪ ph = 19.7 MPa (=197bar)
▪ pp = 57.2 MPa (=572bar)
▪ Total burst resistance from datasheet (= 624 bars)
▪ Implies simple summation of layer burst resistance is invalid.
▪ Pressure armour locally yields in the interlock before tensile armour reaches yield.

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3.7.6 Bending Stiffness

▪ Tensile armours provide bending stiffness due to
contact pressure, up until friction is overcome and
slippage occurs – or the hysteresis effect

▪ Post-slip, bending stiffness, EI, of a flexible pipe is

provided by the extruded polymeric sheathes (hollow
cylinders)
▪ Internal pressure sheath
▪ External sheath
▪ EPA-11 = 260 MPa @20°C

▪ For our example 8-inch pipe (PA-11 polymer layers)

▪ Inner sheath = 6.4 kN.m2
▪ Outer sheath = 14.7 kN.m2
▪ Total = 21.1 kN.m2
▪ Compare with example data sheet (21.04 kN.m2)

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3.7.7 Minimum Bending Radius

▪ MBR defined for storage and dynamic applications
▪ MBRdynamic = 1.5 MBRstorage
▪ Except for PVDF pipes, in which allowable strain for dynamic
applications is 3.5% (slide 2.4) r

▪ Two criteria used to determine pipe MBR

▪ Bending strain in polymer layers
▪ Locking radius of pressure armour layer
▪ Strain is typically, but not always, the limiting criteria

▪ Bending strain, εb = r / R, where:

▪ r = radius to outer fibre
▪ R = bending radius
▪ For PA11, allowable strain = 7.7%

▪ Example pipe
▪ MBRinternal sheath = r / εb = 114.7 / 0.077 = 1.49m
▪ MBRexternal sheath = r / εb = 140.35 / 0.077 = 1.82m
▪ => MBRstorage = Max of MBRs = 1.82m
▪ => data sheet gives MBRstorage = 1.82m R = drum diameter / 2
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4.1 Global Design Analysis Practice

▪ Objective is to demonstrate design acceptability in terms

of :
▪ Strength
▪ Max. and Min. pipe loading from extreme environmental conditions
▪ Fatigue
▪ Long-term loading, large number of cycles

▪ Finite Element Analysis

▪ Time domain analysis usually necessary due to geometric non-
linearities (large displacements)
▪ Various programs used within industry
▪ Flexcom, Orcaflex etc.

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4.2 Global Strength Analysis

▪ Global analysis approach

▪ Static analysis
▪ Effective Tension and Apparent Mass
▪ Example flexible pipe data
▪ Buoyancy calculations
▪ Define extreme load cases
▪ Preliminary dynamic analysis
▪ Refinement of dynamic configuration
▪ Detailed dynamic analysis

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4.3 Global Analysis Approach Structure

500
▪ Perform initial static analysis

Local-1 Axis ; Time is 1.000 s

400
▪ Establish finite element mesh

300
▪ Define nodal locations and riser geometry

200
▪ Define element connectivity Structure

500
▪ Define boundary conditions

100

Local-1 Axis ; Time is 3.100 s

▪ Assign physical properties

400
0
▪ Riser

300
-100
▪ Internal fluid
-250 -150 -50 50 150 250 350

200
Local-3 Axis ; VP=(0.000,0.000,-1.000)

▪ Hydrodynamic coefficients

100
Licensed To: Project Title

▪ Define water depth and seawater/seabed

MCS, Aberdeen. Skarv
Structure

500
Figure Title

properties Flexcom

0
STATIC

Local-1 Axis ; Time is 3.200 s

Version 7.7 Figure Nº Date Document Nº Revision

400
▪ Define vessel characteristics

-100
8 26/11/2008
-250 -150 -50 50 150 250 350

300
Local-3 Axis ; VP=(0.000,0.000,-1.000)

▪ Perform restart analysis Structure

Structure

200
Licensed To: Project Title

500
▪ Vessel offset and direction MCS, Aberdeen. 8inOP-FarULS-FOP

Local-1 Axis ; Time is 46.483 s

100
Figure Title

400
Flexcom STATIC
Version 7.7 Figure Nº Date Document Nº

▪
0
Perform current analysis

300
8 26/11/2008

-100
▪ Current profile and direction

200
-250 -150 -50 50 150 250 350
Local-3 Axis ; VP=(0.000,0.000,-1.000)

100
▪ Perform dynamic analysis
Licensed To: Project Title

MCS, Aberdeen. Current

0
Figure Title

▪ Wave parameters and direction Flexcom STATIC

-100
Version 7.7 Figure Nº Date Document Nº Revision
8 23/03/2009 -250 -150 -50 50 150 250 350
Local-3 Axis ; VP=(0.000,0.000,-1.000)

EG55F9 Riser Systems and Hydrodynamics Licensed To:

MCS, Aberdeen.
Project Title

8inOP-FarULS1-FOP
Figure Title
Flexcom
MSc in Subsea Engineering

4.3 Static Analysis

▪ Determine initial static geometry:
5deg hang-off
7deg hang-off
9deg hang-off

800
▪ Lengths

700
Local-1 Axis ; Time is 1.000 s
600
▪ Vessel hang-off angle (e.g. 5°, 7°, 9°) Free

500
Hanging
▪

400
Catenary
Buoyancy requirements

300
▪ Seabed touchdown point location

200
100
0
▪ Loads considered

-100
-800 -700 -600 -500 -400 -300 -200 -100 0 100
Local-3 Axis ; VP=(0.000,0.000,1.000)

▪ Gravity, buoyancy, internal fluid, vessel 5deg hang-off

7deg hang-off

offsets, current loads 9deg hang-off

800
700
▪ Host vessel offsets

Local-1 Axis ; Time is 1.000 s

600
Lazy-Wave

500
▪ Near (toward seabed end)

400
300
▪ Far (away from seabed end)

200
▪ Cross (out-of-plane)

100
0
-100
-800 -700 -600 -500 -400 -300 -200 -100 0 100
Local-3 Axis ; VP=(0.000,0.000,1.000)

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4.3.1 Mass and Buoyancy

• Submerged (or ‘Apparent’ or ‘Effective’) mass of a riser:

AM = mair + minternal fluid – mdisplaced seawater
Usually expressed per unit length where:
mair = mass of riser, empty in air
minternal fluid = ρint . Aint = ρint . (π.IDeq2)/4
mdisplaced seawater = ρext . Aext = ρext . (π.OD2)/4

• Flexible pipe data provided typically indicates weight both full of

seawater (ρ = 1025 kg/m3) and empty
– Note, since carcass internal diameter (ID) is profiled, i.e. non-smooth, need
to establish equivalent ID based on:-
IDeq = SQRT {minternal fluid . 4 / (ρint . π)}

• In global analysis, we are concerned with end loads and reactions

which are a function of ‘Apparent’ or ‘Effective’ weight. (As opposed to
local cross section analysis which is concerned actual pipe wall stress.)

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4.3.2 Example Flexible Pipe

Layer No. Description Mass (kg/m) ID (mm) Thickness
(mm) • mair = 109.94 kg/m
1 Internal carcass 22.3 203.2 7.5 • minternal fluid (sw) = 35.42 kg/m
2 PA11 internal sheath 4.4 218.2 5.6  IDeq = 209.8 mm
3 Pressure armour 39.5 229.4 8.0 • mdispl sw = 63.43 kg/m
4 Anti-wear tape 1.2 245.4 1.5
5 Tensile armour layer 1 16.9 248.4 3.0
6 Anti-wear tape 1.3 254.4 1.5
• Can now determine AM for
7 Tensile armour layer 2 17.4 257.4 3.0 range of internal fluids:
8 Tape 0.7 263.4 1.65 Empty, i.e. IFD = 0kg/m3
9 PA11 external sheath 6.3 266.7 7.0 Gas filled, IFD = 200kg/m3
Diameter: outside (mm) 280.7 Oil filled, IFD = 800kg/m3
Weight in air, empty (kg/m) 109.94 Seawater, IFD = 1025kg/m3
Weight in air, full of seawater (kg/m) 145.36
Pressure: Nominal bursting (bar) 624
• AMempty = 46.5 kg/m
Pressure: Hydrostatic collapse (bar) 121
• AMgas filled = 53.4 kg/m
Damaging pull in a straight line (kN) 3516.7
Minimum bend radius, for Storage (m) 1.82 • AMoil filled = 74.2 kg/m
Bending stiffness, at 20degC (kN.m2) 21.04 • AMsw filled = 81.9 kg/m
Torsional stiffness (kN.m2/rad) 3100
Relative Elongation for 50kN (%) 0.014

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4.3.3 AM and Effective Tension

• Consider example of FHC riser

connected to a fixed platform
– 8-inch example flexible
– WD = 170m
– 10deg hang-off angle
– Riser hang-off 10m above MWL

• Estimate of top effective tension may be derived from:

– Static Top Teff ≈ (in air length + submerged length)
• in air length ≈ 10m x (mair + mint fluid)
• submerged length ≈ 170m x AM x catenary factor
– Catenary factor function of hang-off angle
• 5deg => cf ≈ 1.1
• 10deg => cf ≈ 1.2
• Tutorial: Perform Flexcom analysis to verify ‘rule of thumb’ catenary factors
– Hand calculation gives:
• Teff, empty = 104 kN (or 10585 kg-f or 10.6 Te-f)
• Teff, oil filled = 162 kN
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4.3.4 Buoyancy Modelling - 1

• Consider steep wave riser system
• Reality is discrete buoyancy
modules
• In analysis, more efficient to derive
equivalent smeared buoyancy 100m
100m

properties
– Introduce concept of AM ratio =
(AMbuoyancy / AMriser)
– If AM ratio = -1, => buoyancy 10m
section AM is equal and opposite to
100m
riser
– For our example pipe (seawater
filled), if AM ratio = -1, then
• AMbuoyancy / AMriser = -1
• AMbuoyancy = -81.9 kg/m

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4.3.5 Buoyancy Modelling - 2

Buoyancy
Module Bare Pipe
Mair equiv buoy

OD buoy = ODequiv

3.L

L = ¾ ODbuoy 2×L

• Design assumptions:
– Buoyancy module length, L = ¾ ODbuoy
– Buoyancy module spacing, = 3.L (centre to centre)
• Equivalence by volume:
π/4.(ODbuoy2 – ODr2).L + π/4.ODr2.3L = π/4.ODequiv2.3L
ODequiv2 = {(ODbuoy2 – ODr2)/3 + ODr2}
If, for our example pipe, ODbuoyancy module = 1.00m, then
ODequivvolume = 0.621m

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4.3.6 Buoyancy Modelling - 3

• So, ODequivvol = 0.621m
– mdispl sw = 310.6 kg/m
• Internal diameter is unchanged, thus,
– minternal fluid (seawater filled) = 35.42 kg/m
• Apparent mass of equivalent buoyancy section, AMbuoyancy, for a AM ratio = -1
is -81.9 kg/m from previous
– Therefore, can determine mair for equivalent buoyancy section, using
– AM = mair + minternal fluid – mdisplaced seawater
– mair, equiv buoy, = -81.9 – 35.42 + 310.6
– mair, equiv buoy, = 193.3 kg/m
• Now have following smeared buoyancy properties => global analysis:-
– mair, equiv buoy
– ODequiv buoy
• For dynamic analysis, also require equivalent hydrodynamic coefficients for
smeared buoyancy section to feed into Morison’s equation for dynamic
loading…
– Cdn equiv buoy – drag coefficient normal to structure
– Cdt equiv buoy – drag coefficient tangential to structure

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4.3.7 Buoyancy Modelling - 4

• Morison’s equation for dynamic loading…

• Inertia force component is proportional to volume

• Drag force component is proportional to area
– But ODequiv buoy is calculated by volume equivalence
– Need to modify hydrodynamic drag coefficients to compensate
for this inaccuracy
– Thus, need to determine equivalent area of smeared buoyancy
section

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4.3.8 Buoyancy Modelling - 5

Buoyancy
Module Bare Pipe

OD buoy = ODequiv

3.L

L = ¾ ODbuoy 2×L

• Equivalence by area:
(ODr).3L + (ODbuoy mod – ODr).L = ODequivarea.3L
ODequivarea = (ODr) + (ODbuoy mod – ODr) / 3
If, for our example, ODbuoy mod = 1.00m, then
ODequivarea = 0.520m

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4.3.9 Buoyancy Modelling - 6

Buoyancy
Module
Bare Pipe Hydrodynamic Symbol Bare Buoyancy
Coefficient riser Module
(nominal) (nominal)
Normal drag Cdn 0.7 – 1.2 0.7 – 1.2
Tangential drag Cdt 0.0 0.5
T
Normal inertia Cmn 1.8 – 2.0 1.8 – 2.0
N
Tangential inertia Cmt 0.0 1.5

• Hydrodynamic coefficients required to calculate Morison’s loading

normal and tangential to riser
• Unlike smooth bare riser, buoyancy module tangential loads are non-
negligible
• For equivalent smeared buoyancy, drag coefficients in normal and
tangential direction are calculated as:
– Cd equiv buoy = Cd nominal . (ODequivarea / ODequivvolume)
– For our example pipe (with AM ratio = -1 and ODbuoyancy module = 1.00m)
• Cdn equiv buoy = 0.59
• Cdt equiv buoy = 0.42
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4.3.10 Pipe data inputs

• Riser analysis programs require following pipe inputs:-
• Bending stiffness, EI (N.m2) [= 21.04 E3 for example pipe]
• Axial stiffness, EA (N)
– Example pipe data states “Relative Elongation for 50kN (%) = 0.014”
– For an elastic material (Hooke’s law): ΔL = F.L / E.A
– EA = F.L / ΔL = 50E3 * 1 / 0.014% = 357 E6 N
• Torsional stiffness, GJ (N.m2/rad) [= 3100]
• Mass in air empty, mair (kg/m) [= 109.94]
• Internal diameter, IDequiv (m) [= 0.2098]
• Outer diameter, OD (m) [=0.2807]
• Smeared buoyancy section properties are as above
except
– mair, equiv buoy
– ODequiv buoy

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4.4 Vessel input data

– Geometry
• Lpp (length between perpendiculars)
• COG position (aft of fwd pp)
• Riser hang-off location wrt COG
– Loading conditions
• Full or ballasted
– Mooring System
• Turret-moored
– weathervaning (minimise motions)
– harsh environment
– External or internal turret
– May be disconnectable turret
• Spread-moored
– West Africa
– Mooring system offsets
• Riser system must accommodate
specified offsets
– Motions (Response amplitude operators
RAOs)
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4.4.1 Vessel Offsets & RAOs

• Static riser offset directions Xmax
– Near, Far, Transverse, Quartering XWF (Peak Amplitude)
Mean position
Far offset
500
400
Local-1 Axis ; Time is 1.000 s
300

Excursion,
X Offset about
200

which line
dynamic analysis
100

is performed
0
-100

-300 -200 -100 0 100 200 300 Time, t

Local-3 Axis ; VP=(0.000,0.000,-1.000)

• Vessel motion RAO represents the motion

response (in 6 degrees of freedom) to regular
wave of 1m amplitude over a range of
frequencies
– i.e. Transfer Functions to Relate Vessel Motion to Wave Height
– Amplitude in m/m or deg/m
– Phase in degrees
– Characteristic of vessel

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4.5 Dynamic Analysis

▪ Apply dynamic excitation in terms of:
▪ Wave motion
▪ Morison’s loading on structure
▪ Wave induced vessel motions
▪ Vessel Response Amplitude Operators (RAOs)

▪ Critical Loads:
▪ Tension & Bending Moments
▪ Maximum at top connection
▪ Subsea connection
▪ Compression in low-tension regions
▪ Curvature
▪ Bend stiffener tip
▪ Seabed touchdown region
▪ Range of Motion
▪ Check for interference with other pipes, hull, mooring lines etc
▪ Angles at hang-off

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4.6.1 Environment - Waves

▪ Regular Wave
▪ Deterministic
▪ Regular (Airy) wave specified by:-
▪ Wave height amplitude, H (m)
▪ Wave period, T (s)
▪ Extreme wave height and period, e.g. 100yr return
▪ Short runtimes, easy interpretation
100 Comparison of Spectra for Hs=6m, Tz=9s

▪ Irregular Wave

Wave Spectrum (m^2 s)

80
Pierson-Moskowitz
JONSWAP

▪ Spectrum represents seastate 60

▪ JONSWAP, Pierson-Moskowitz, Ochi 40

▪ Long simulation times 20

▪ Extrapolate maxima 0
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30
Frequency (Hz)

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4.6.2 Wave parameters

• Hs or Hsig - Significant wave height (mean of highest third of all peaks)
• Tz - Mean zero crossing period
• Tp - Spectral peak period
• Hmax - Maximum wave height (North Sea, Hmax = 1.86 Hs)
• THmax - Period associated with maximum wave, Hmax
• Tmax - Maximum wave period (Tmax = 3.70 √H)
• Tmin - Minimum wave period (Tmax = 2.46 √H)
• Tmean - Mean wave periods (Tmax+Tmin)/2

Wave peaks
2 x Tz
Surface Elevation, (t)

Time, t

Zero u pcrossing

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4.6.3 Environment - Current

• Uniform
• Piecewise Linear
• Shearing
• Influenced by
– Tides
– Rivers
– Wind
– Temperature
– Salinity
• Defined by elevation, velocity and direction
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4.7 Frequency Screening

• Purpose is to identify maximum riser response

– Usually driven by vessel peak response
– Natural frequencies occur in wave period range
– May be missed using traditional min, mean, max
periods

• If analysis (extreme or fatigue) is based on

regular wave, must ensure critical wave periods
are accounted for in load case matrix

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4.8 Frequency Screening

Max. Average Number
Height Period Cycles
19.0 14.9 7
4.50E+03 17.0 14.0 25
4.00E+03
15.0 13.2 108
13.0 12.3 460
3.50E+03
11.0 11.3 2077
3.00E+03
9.0 10.2 10335
Bending Moment (Nm)

7.0 9.0 57606

2.50E+03
5.0 7.6 367202
2.00E+03
3.0 5.9 2546034
1.0 3.4 2984113
1.50E+03

1.00E+03

5.00E+02

0.00E+00
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0 18.0 20.0

Period (s)

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4.9 Typical Load Case Matrix

API Load Tensile
Load Internal Internal Mooring Pressure
Loading TLP Case Armor
Case Fluid Fluid Seastate Current System/ Armor Wire
Condition Offset Designatio Wire
Ref. Density Pressure Tendons Utilization
n Utilization
10 Year
Operating OP1 Min & Max Design Associated Associated Intact Normal 0.67 0.55
Winter Storm
Max 100 Year
EX1 Min & Max Associated Associated Intact Normal 0.67 0.55
Operating Hurricane
Max 100 Year Associated
Extreme EX2 Min & Max Associated Intact Normal 0.67 0.55
Operating Hurricane Loop Current
Max 100 Year
EX3 Min & Max Associated Associated Intact Normal 0.67 0.55
Operating Loop Current
1000 Year
SV1 Min & Max Ambient Associated Associated Intact Abnormal 0.85 0.85
Hurricane
10 Year
SV2 Min & Max Ambient Associated Associated Damaged Abnormal 0.85 0.85
Hurricane
Survival 100 Year
SV3 Seawater Ambient Sudden Associated Associated Intact Abnormal 0.85 0.85
Hurricane
SV4 Min & Max Ambient Cold Core Eddy Associated Associated Damaged Abnormal 0.85 0.85
Test at 1 Year
TS1(a) Seawater Associated Associated Intact Installation 0.85 0.85
1.25xDP Winter Storm
Test
Test at 1 Year
TS1(b) Seawater Associated Associated Intact Installation 0.67 0.67
1.1xDP Winter Storm
1 Year
IN1 Seawater Ambient Associated Associated Intact Installation 0.67 0.67
Winter Storm
Installation
1 Year
IN2 Empty Ambient Associated Associated Intact Installation 0.67 0.67
Winter Storm

▪ Increased to 0.67 in 3rd revision of API 17J => to compete with rigid steel pipe

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4.10 Analysis Sensitivity Studies

▪ Recommended to ensure robustness of configuration
▪ Internal fluid range
▪ Drag and inertia coefficients
▪ FE mesh sensitivity (smaller elements at touchdown
region)
▪ Riser bending stiffness
▪ Will vary depending on bore fluid
temperature and pressure
▪ Non-collinear current/wave/offset
▪ Seabed stiffness

EG55F9 Riser Systems and Hydrodynamics

MSc in Subsea Engineering

5.1 Global Fatigue Analysis - 1

▪ Historically, deterministic approach used:
▪ Discretise seastate scatter diagram
▪ Hsig
▪ Tz
▪ No. of occurrences in given time
▪ Perform ‘representative’ regular wave analyses for a
manageable no. of loadcases
▪ => Global tension and curvature ranges
▪ => Local cross section bending model
▪ Dynamic fatigue testing may be
performed to demonstrate
conservatism

EG55F9 Riser Systems and Hydrodynamics

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5.2 Global Fatigue Analysis - 2

0-1.99 2-3.99 4-5.99 6-7.99 8-9.99 10-11.99 12-13.99 14-15.99 16-17.99 18-19.99 20-21.99 22-23.99 24-25.99 26-27.99
20-20.49 1 1
19.5-19.99 1 1 2
19-19.49 1 1 2
18.5-18.99 1 1 2
18-18.49 1 1 1 3
17.5-17.99 1 1 1 3
17-17.49 1 1 1 3
16.5-16.99 1 2 1 4
16-16.49 1 2 2 1 6
15.5-15.99 1 3 3 1 8
15-15.49 1 5 4 1 1 12
14.5-14.99 1 7 6 1 1 16
14-14.49 1 10 8 2 1 22
13.5-13.99 2 15 11 2 1 31
13-13.49 3 21 15 3 1 43
12.5-12.99
12-12.49
5
9
31
45
20
27
4
6
1
1
1
1
62
89
Max. Average Number
11.5-11.99 15 66 36 8 1 1 127
11-11.49
10.5-10.99
1
1
26
45
96
139
48
64
11
15
2
3
1
1 1
185
269
Height Period Cycles
10-10.49 1 77 200 86 20 4 1 1 390
9.5-9.99
9-9.49
2
4
132
226
289
416
116
155
27
36
6
8
1
2
1
1 1
574
849
19.0 14.9 7
8.5-8.99 9 383 598 207 48 11 3 1 1 1261
8-8.49
7.5-7.99
21
46
648
1091
856
1221
278
374
65
88
16
22
4
7
1
2
1
1
1890
2852
17.0 14.0 25
7-7.49 102 1826 1736 504 120 31 10 3 1 4333
6.5-6.99
6-6.49
1
1
227
508
3035
5006
2458
3462
681
925
164
226
45
64
14
21
4
6
1
1 1
6630
10221
15.0 13.2 108
5.5-5.99
5-5.49
4.5-4.99
2
6
16
1132
2511
5530
8180
13216
21070
4855
6779
9424
1261
1727
2377
315
443
631
92
135
199
31
45
65
9
12
17
2
3
3
1
1
1
15880
24878
39333
13.0 12.3 460
4-4.49
3.5-3.99
3-3.49
44
130
449
12030
25719
53748
33057
50852
76279
13037
17910
24336
3287
4568
6371
908
1322
1945
296
440
646
93
130
175
22
28
34
4
5
6
1
1
1
62779
101105
163990
11.0 11.3 2077
2.5-2.99
2-2.49
1921
9702
109110
212345
110554
152447
32536
42518
8883
12275
2874
4175
912
1200
226
274
40
45
7
8
1
1
267064
434990 9.0 10.2 10335
1.5-1.99 1 48924 387266 195071 53620 16559 5665 1401 299 46 8 1 708861
1-1.49
0.5-0.99
41
4737
202980
628680
618016
718505
223210
204806
62895
61817
20747
19718
6480
5060
1335
877
270
170
39
24
7
4
1
1
1136021
1644399
7.0 9.0 57606
0-0.49 261067 654423 305520 84402 26055 6607 1380 215 40 5 1 1 1339716
265846 1547279 2452354 1185678 367465 107959 32051 7968 1886 342 65 13 0 0
5.0 7.6 367202
3.0 5.9 2546034
1.0 3.4 2984113

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5.3 Cross Section Fatigue Analysis

▪ Estimation of tensile armour stresses due to bending
▪ Two components of bending stress
▪ Static stress, σtb

▪ where, t = tendon (armour wire) thickness (m)

E = modulus of elasticity (N/m2) = 2.07E8 (N/m2)
km = mean curvature (Curvature = 1 / R)
α = tendon lay angle
Θ = point on circumference (cos Θ = 1 at 0deg)

▪ Dynamic stresses, Δσtb

▪ where, Δk = curvature range

▪ For example pipe, with Rmean = 5m and ranging between 3m
and 7m
▪ σtb = 250 MPa
▪ Δσtb = ± 238 MPa

▪ For fatigue calculation, also need stress ranges due to

tension and pressure

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5.4.1 Service Life Assessment

▪ S-N Curve
▪ Derived from small scale testing in predicted operational conditions
▪ S = stress range (MPa), N = No. of cycles to failure
▪ According to Basquin’s law, ΔS = a / Nb
▪ where, ΔS = stressrange (MPa),
▪ N = No. of cycles to failure,
▪ a and b are constants 10000

▪ a = 5000
▪ b = 0.2 Example S-N curve

Stress range from global and local fatigue analysis (10 load cases)

▪ ΔS determined from 1000

Stress Range (MPa)
analysis
▪ a and b are characteristic
of material fatigue capacity 100

▪ Can solve for N

▪ Then perform Miner’s
summation to establish 10
1.E+01 1.E+02 1.E+03 1.E+04 1.E+05 1.E+06 1.E+07 1.E+08

fatigue life Number of cycles

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5.4.2 Service Life Assessment

▪ Miner’s summation to establish fatigue life

▪ Assumes fatigue damage is cumulative
▪ API 17J specifies that a factor of safety of 10 is required on fatigue
▪ non-inspectable, safety-critical component
▪ In Miner’s sum, failure predicted to occur at damage = 1
▪ => allowable damage is 0.1

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MSc in Subsea Engineering

Thank you

▪ Questions

EG55F9 Riser Systems and Hydrodynamics

MSc in Subsea Engineering

Advanced FE Flexible Pipe Analysis

EG55F9 Riser Systems and Hydrodynamics

MSc in Subsea Engineering

Advanced FE Flexible Pipe Analysis

Armour Wire Disorganisation & FE Models:

EG55F9 Riser Systems and Hydrodynamics