Double-C clamped buckle arrestors for offshore pipelines
摘要
Buckling of offshore pipelines is a critical issue that needs careful consideration to ensure the safe and reliable transportation of hydrocarbons. In this study, a new buckle arrestor configuration, the Double-C clamped arrestors, is introduced into the pipeline model to improve the buckling load capacity using the finite element tool ANSYS. The boundary conditions considered for the pipeline model were roller and pinned conditions. A geometric nonlinear buckling analysis was conducted on the pipeline model to determine the critical buckling load. Additionally, multiple buckle arrestors were placed along the length of the pipeline, and analysis was subsequently performed. Buckling experiments were conducted on pipeline specimens made of SS304 material. The test outcomes were analyzed with the aid of the non-destructive Southwell plot technique. The results obtained through the three-dimensional (3D) numerical studies were evaluated against experimental data to verify their accuracy. The experimental results show that the addition of a double-C clamp buckle arrestor to the pipelines has a significant impact on their critical buckling load. The four double-C clamp arrestor configuration shows a higher critical buckling load than single and bare pipelines, exhibiting a significant rise in critical buckling load and outperforming the bare pipeline by 42.8% and the single double-C buckle arrestor pipeline by 19%.