L.V.S. Sagrilo

A coupled approach for dynamic analysis of CALM systems

This paper presents a time domain coupled numerical model, integrating the buoy and the slender structures, for the dynamic analysis of catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) systems under random environmental loading. The model is based on the finite element discretization of the slender structures and the buoy hydrodynamics can be represented by two approaches: one based on Morisons equation and another using the diffraction/radiation theory. The moored tanker dynamic behavior is represented in the model by the hawser dynamic tension. The numerical results of a CALM system, designed to operate in 400 m water depth, are compared to model tests data available, resulting in a very good agreement between them.

VIM and Wave-Frequency Fatigue Damage Analysis for SCRs Connected to Monocolumn Platforms

The large Vortex Induced Motion (VIM) due to current acting on a circular-shaped monocolumn platform induces low-frequency stress variations on the SCRs (Steel Catenary Risers) connected to it. These stresses together with stress variations associated to wave effects must be accounted for in the fatigue analysis of these risers. Normally, the joint statistics of waves and currents show that these environmental variables may be considered as statistically independent. Therefore, the number of global riser analyses necessary for the SCRs fatigue analysis becomes extremely high in order to consider a suitable number of combinations (including intensities and directions) of waves and currents. This paper describes a methodology for computing the fatigue damage in SCRs (Steel Catenary Risers) due to wave-frequency and VIM (Vortex Induced Motion) load effects based on a combination damage formula presented in DnV-OS-F204 [1]. The wave-frequency and VIM fatigue damages are calculated separately (by a time-domain rainflow approach) and the combined damage is evaluated by means of the DnV formula. This methodology reduces considerably the number of global riser analyses and consequently the computational burden associated to the fatigue analyses of SCRs connected to monocolumn-type platforms.Copyright

A Theoretical Approach to Predict the Fatigue Life of Flexible Pipes

This paper focuses on a theoretical approach to access the fatigue life of flexible pipes. This methodology employs functions that convert forces and moments obtained in time-domain global analyses into stresses in their tensile armors. The stresses are then processed by well-known cycle counting methods, and S-N curves are used to evaluate the fatigue damage at several points in the pipe’s cross-section. Finally, Palmgren-Miner linear damage hypothesis is assumed in order to calculate the accumulated fatigue damage. A study on the fatigue life of a flexible pipe employing this methodology is presented. The main points addressed in the study are the influence of friction between layers, the effect of the annulus conditions, the importance of evaluating the fatigue life in various points of the pipe’s cross-section, and the effect of mean stresses. The results obtained suggest that the friction between layers and the annulus conditions strongly influences the fatigue life of flexible pipes. Moreover, mean stress effects are also significant, and at least half of the wires in each analyzed section of the pipe must be considered in a typical fatigue analysis.

On the extreme response of heave-excited flexible risers

The focus of this paper is on the development of a high effective practical approach to assess the short-term extreme response statistics of flexible risers excited by the first-order heave motion of a floating unit. The extreme response statistics is obtained by fitting a probability distribution directly to a sample of extreme response values. Each sample is obtained through the analysis of a short-time window of a heave motion realization that encompasses the instant when the extreme response takes place. The location of this window is determined with the help of a time-dependent nonlinear transfer function relating the response to the excitation. The analyses of three different flexible risers configurations illustrate the accuracy and the robustness of this approach to calculate the extreme response statistics.

Comparing Measured and Calculated Forces of a Manifold Deployment in 940 Meters Water Depth

In August 2001 the MRL-5 production manifold was installed by PETROBRAS in 940 meters water depth at the Marlim field offshore Brazil. The semi-submersible Amethyst, using an 18-5/8” marine riser, deployed it into the location. During the manifold deploying, several in-site measurements of the hook forces (force at the drill line dead end) and the semi-submersible accelerations were done. Both time series for the vertical accelerations and forces were obtained for two positions of the manifold along the water column. The main objective of this paper is to compare the results from the column riser system numerical analysis with the riser axial forces measurements obtained by the monitoring system.Copyright

A Study on the Holding Capacity Safety Factors for Torpedo Anchors

The use of powerful numerical tools based on the finite-element method has been improving the prediction of the holding capacity of fixed anchors employed by the offshore oil industry. One of the main achievements of these tools is the reduction of the uncertainty related to the holding capacity calculation of these anchors. Therefore, it is also possible to reduce the values of the associated design safety factors, which have been calibrated relying on models with higher uncertainty, without impairing the original level of structural safety. This paper presents a study on the calibration of reliability-based safety factors for the design of torpedo anchors considering the statistical model uncertainty evaluated using results from experimental tests and their correspondent finite-element-based numerical predictions. Both working stress design (WSD) and load and resistance factors design (LRFD) design methodologies are investigated. Considering the WSD design methodology, the single safety is considerably lower than the value typically employed in the design of torpedo anchors. Moreover, a LRFD design code format for torpedo anchors is more appropriate since it leads to designs having less-scattered safety levels around the target value.

Towards actual brazilian traffic load models for short span highway bridges

New live load models for highway bridge design in Brazil are under development by assembling real traffic database, traffic simulations, analytical-numerical modeling of the dynamic interaction between vehicle and structure and statistical extrapolations. This paper presents and discusses the results obtained in the first stages of this work which includes the comparison between the static effects due to the actual traffic of heavy vehicles and those generated by the live load model given in the current national code NBR 7188. It is demonstrated that this live load model is not appropriate to represent the actual traffic effects and may be, in some cases, non-conservative. The present work deals with short span bridges for two lanes single carriageway under free flow traffic scenarios. The representative static effects in these bridges due to the actual traffic of heavy vehicles are obtained by extrapolating its probability density functions to a certain return period. To this purpose, a traffic database was constructed by gathering data from several weighing stations in Brazilian highways which was then applied to perform traffic simulations through a specially developed computational tool.

Artificial Neural Networks Applied to Flexible Pipes Fatigue Calculations

Flexible pipes play an important role in offshore oil exploitation activities nowadays. However, time-domain flexible pipe irregular wave dynamic analyses are extremely computational expensive. One of the various existing methods to reduce computational costs in dynamic analyses is the hybrid methodology that combines dynamic Finite Element Analyses (FEA) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). This paper presents a novel application of this methodology for flexible pipes fatigue calculations. In order to decrease computational cost involved in these analyses the proposed hybrid methodology aims to predict tension and curvatures in the bend stiffener region. Firstly using short FEA simulations to train the ANN, and then using only the ANN and the prescribed floater motions to get the rest of the response histories. With the predicted tension and curvatures, a local analysis is applied to calculate stresses in tensile armour wires and the corresponding fatigue lives. To evaluate the optimal ANN a sensibility study is developed for some key parameters as: training time length, neurons on hidden layer and delay length. A full FEA is also performed in order to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed hybrid methodology, comparing both full FEA flexible pipe fatigue results and those obtained using the hybrid methodology.Copyright

Efficient Probabilistic Fatigue Analysis of a Riser Suspended and Moored by Chains

Fatigue analysis of an offshore structure usually requires the numerical simulation of a huge number of loading cases to compute the long-term integral associated to the accumulated fatigue damage. Papadimitriou et al. [1] and Low and Cheung [2] proposed two distinct approaches to solve the long-term fatigue damage more efficiently. These methods are known as Asymptotic Approximation Method and Perturbation Method, respectively. This paper investigates the efficiency of these two methods in the fatigue analysis of the steel pipe of a riser suspended and moored by chains (RSAA). Since there is an analytical solution for the stress spectrum of this riser, both time and frequency domain fatigue assessments approaches are considered. The accuracy and computational efficiency of the aforementioned methods are compared with the “brute force” direct integration methodology.Copyright

Pattern Recognition Techniques Applied to the Detection and Classification of Welding Defects by Magnetic Testing

The importance of nondestructive tests cannot be denied nowadays, and their use in the petroleum industry is extremely important to ensure safe operation of the equipment. The magnetic flux leakage (MFL) technique in instrumented pig is frequently used for pipeline inspection to detect weld defects and internal or external corrosion; however, as every nondestructive technique, it may present report errors, caused by several human factors (like lack of theoretical knowledge or experience in the technique applied, tiredness due to long hours of work, and so on) and by the inspection technique itself. Because pattern recognition techniques are already well known and applied in other technological research areas, such as fuzzy logic and artificial neural networks, the possibility to develop an automatic system to detect and classify defects through some nondestructive techniques aroused, mainly for those techniques that actually operate with signal or image interpretation. In the present work, pattern nonlinear classifiers were applied using artificial neural networks, to check the possibility to detect and classify defects in pipelines inspected through magnetic pigs (MFL technique). Several tests were performed on specimens with defects artificially inserted (internal and external corrosion and lack of penetration).