Fatigue considerations for offshore pipelines

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., (Pap.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5464103

Alexander, H C; Allen, P L; Warner, J L

The response of submarine pipelines to wave action has been investigated at the Technical University of Nova Scotia. The investigation shows that failure from fatigue of free spans of submerged pipelines transporting hydrocarbons under wave action only is a definite possibility. Probabilistic techniques are used to account for the irregular wave-induced loading on a free span of submerged pipeline. The magnitude and the number of cycles of hydrodynamic loading, the free span is subjected to over a time period, is determined. The Palmgren-Miner accumulated damage fatigue failure theory is applied to evaluate the time to failure from fatigue. Fatigue damage due to vortex induced oscillation, which is not considered in this investigation, could be included in this accumulated damage fatigue failure theory and the results would differ if this phenomena were included. Results are presented for sea states described by the Pierson-Maskowitz wave spectrum and spectra obtained from continuous surface elevation records from coastal Eastern Canada. Pipeline variables include diameter, wall thickness, density of transported fluid, weight and thickness of concrete jacket, height of span above the sea bed, end conditions, water depth and most important, the length of span. Results show that typical Gulf of Mexico pipe spans are practically immune from failure due to fatigue. Typical North Sea and North Atlantic pipe spans may have a fatigue life in the order of tens of years.

• Research Organization: Texas A and M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX
• OSTI ID: 5464103
• Report Number(s): CONF-830108-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., (Pap.); (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
022000 -- Petroleum-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
03 NATURAL GAS
032000* -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
FAILURES
FATIGUE
FLUID MECHANICS
FUNCTIONS
GRAVITY WAVES
HYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
OFFSHORE SITES
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PIPELINES
PROBABILITY
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SERVICE LIFE
SPECTRAL FUNCTIONS
SPECTRAL RESPONSE
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
WATER WAVES
WAVE FORCES