Abiodun Aremu OLIYIDE (Float-Pipe)

Department of Naval Architecture,
Ocean and Marine Engineering
Dynamics and VIV Analysis of a Novel Float-pipe in

Ultra-deep Waters
Author: Abiodun Aremu OLIYIDE
Supervisor: Dr Narakorn Srinil
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the requirement of the

degree
Master of Science
Subsea Engineering
Copyright Declaration
This is to certify that this thesis is an original research work carried out by Abiodun Aremu
OLIYIDE with Registration Number 201486866 and it has not submitted previously for an
examination which had led to an award of a degree.
The copyright of this project work belongs to Abiodun Aremu OLIYIDE under the terms of
the United Kingdom Copyright Acts as qualified by University of Strathclyde Regulations
3.50. Due acknowledgement must always be made of the use of any material contained in or
derived from this project work.
Signed: Abiodun Aremu OLIYIDE
Date 27/08/2015

7XUQLWLQ8.
DocumentViewer
TurnitinUKOriginality
Report
Processedon:27Aug201510:54BST
ID:46314576
WordCount:10708
Submitted:2
AbiodunAremuOLIYIDE.docxBy
AbiodunAremuOliyide
1%match(Internetfrom
06Aug2015)
SimilaritybySource
SimilarityIndex

InternetSources:
Publications:
StudentPapers:
4%
4%
4%
http://www.orcina.com/SoftwareProducts/OrcaFlex/Documentation/OrcaFlex.pdf
1%match(studentpapersfrom19Apr2013)
SubmittedtoCranfieldUniversityon20130419
<1%match(studentpapersfrom26Aug2015)
SubmittedtoUniversityofStrathclydeon20150826
<1%match(publications)
Ferreira,BrunoC.,MarceloA.Vitola,JuanB.V.Wanderley,SergioH.Sphaier,and
CarlosA.Levi."ANumericalInvestigationoftheResponseofanElasticallyMounted
RigidCylinderWithTwoDegreesofFreedom",29thInternationalConferenceon
OceanOffshoreandArcticEngineeringVolume6,2010.
SubmittedtoUniversityofNewcastleuponTyneon20150807
BayramCelik."Flowpastanoscillatingcircularcylinderinachannelwithan
upstreamsplitterplate",PhysicsofFluids,2008
Khushnood,Shahab,ZaffarM.Khan,M.AfzaalMalik,ZafarullahKoreshi,and
MahmoodAnwarKhan."ModelingandSimulationofCrossFlowInducedVibrationina
MultiSpanTubeBundle",12thInternationalConferenceonNuclearEngineering
Volume2,2004.
<1%match(Internetfrom13Mar2010)
http://stomp.pnl.gov/documentation/application.pdf
<1%match(Internetfrom12Apr2014)
KWWSVVXEPLWDFXNQHZUHSRUWBSULQWYLHZDVS"HT HE HVP RLG VLG Q P VYU U ODQJ HQBXV

7XUQLWLQ8.
http://www.slideshare.net/Offshorevn/bmutlu
sumerjorgenfredsoehydrodynamicsarobookfiorg
Acosta,Fernando[Hrsg.],Haist,MichaelandMller,HaraldS.."Proceedingsofthe
9thfibInternationalPhDSymposiuminCivilEngineering:KarlsruheInstituteof
Technology(KIT),2225July2012,Karlsruhe,Germany",KITScientificPublishing,
Karlsruhe,2012.
<1%match(Internetfrom04Nov2009)
http://www.byggmek.lth.se/fileadmin/byggnadsmekanik/publications/tvsm5000/web5160.pdf
<1%match(studentpapersfrom04May2012)
SubmittedtoCoventryUniversityon20120504
<1%match(studentpapersfrom05Sep2010)
<1%match(Internetfrom17Apr2015)
http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/Documents/MSc_2011/Gibson.pdf
SubmittedtoUniversityCollegeLondonon20130910
<1%match()
http://213.212.77.20/research/otopdf/2001/oto01083.pdf
http://duck.cs.und.ac.za/~banasiak/bookJBp.pdf
<1%match(studentpapersfrom24Jun2013)
SubmittedtoIndianInstituteofTechnology,Madrason20130624
http://www.2hoffshore.com/technical_library/papers/1999/pap027.pdf
<1%match(Internetfrom22May2009)
http://www.cse.seas.wustl.edu/techreportfiles/getreport.asp?428
<1%match(Internetfrom01Dec2005)
http://www.nao.otis.com/products/dimensions/0,1356,CLI15_PRD771_PRT45_PST74_RES1,00.html
Huang,M.H.."Couplingcoefficientandlateralvibrationofslendersuspension
footbridges",ComputersandStructures,200801
HueraHuarte,F.J.."Wakestructuresandvortexinducedvibrationsofalongflexible
cylinderPart2:Dragcoefficientsandvortexmodes",JournalofFluidsand
Structures,200908
<1%match(studentpapersfrom13Apr2006)
SubmittedtoTheRobertGordonUniversityon20060413
SubmittedtoUniversityofBristolon20100503
SubmittedtoUniversityofCapeTownon20150803
SubmittedtoUniversityofPetroleumandEnergyStudieson20140419

7XUQLWLQ8.
<1%match(Internetfrom07Feb2014)
http://66.180.169.221/pdf/452.pdf
Kara,MustafaC.,andThorstenStoesser."AStrongFSICouplingSchemeto
InvestigatetheOnsetofResonanceofCylindersinTandemArrangement",Volume2
CFDandVIV,2014.
SubmittedtoUniversityofEdinburghon20150810
SubmittedtoUniversityofAberdeenon20120515
<1%match(Internetfrom14Jun2003)
http://www.mplsforum.org/tech/ldp_ia_3.0.pdf
<1%match(Internetfrom25Mar2015)
http://economics.yale.edu/sites/default/files/ddf_auto_discr.pdf
Cagney,N.,andS.Balabani."Streamwisevortexinducedvibrationsofcylinderswith
oneandtwodegreesoffreedom",JournalofFluidMechanics,2014.
B.O.Baba."ExperimentalandNumericalInvestigationofFreeVibrationsofComposite
SandwichBeamswithCurvatureandDebonds",ExperimentalMechanics,08/03/2010
B.Shah."DesignAndOperationalConsiderationsForUnsupportedOffshorePipeline
Spans",ProceedingsofOffshoreTechnologyConferenceOTC,05/1986
Gu,Jijun,YiWang,YuZhang,MenglanDuan,andCarlosLevi."Analyticalsolutionof
meantoptensionoflongflexibleriserinmodelingvortexinducedvibrations",Applied
OceanResearch,2013.
<1%match(Internetfrom10Jan2015)
http://www.mountainplains.org/pubs/pdf/MPC11240.pdf
<1%match(Internetfrom07Feb2014)
http://66.180.169.221/pdf/430.pdf
<1%match(Internetfrom12Jan2014)
http://eprints.kfupm.edu.sa/267/1/J_Sait_EAAI_August2003.pdf
Lam,K.M.."Interferenceeffectofanupstreamlargercylinderonthelockinvibration
ofaflexiblymountedcircularcylinder",JournalofFluidsandStructures,200307
R.F.HUANG."Modulationofsurfaceflowandvortexsheddingofacircularcylinderin
thesubcriticalregimebyaselfexcitedvibratingrod",JournalofFluidMechanics,
05/2006

7XUQLWLQ8.
R.N.GOVARDHAN."Vortexinducedvibrationsofasphere",JournalofFluid
Mechanics,05/25/2005
N.JAUVTIS."Theeffectoftwodegreesoffreedomonvortexinducedvibrationatlow
massanddamping",JournalofFluidMechanics,06/25/2004
Neves,C.G.C.Sadowski,N.Bastos,J.P.A."Vibrationalbehaviorofswitched
reluctancemotorsbysimulationandexperimentalprocedures.(Select",IEEE
TransactionsonMagnetics,Sept1998Issue
Iranpour,Mohammad,andFaridTaheri."TheStateoftheArtReviewofRisersVIV
Fatigue",Volume4TerryJonesPipelineTechnologyOceanSpaceUtilizationCFDand
VIVSymposium,2006.
VIKESTAD,K.."ADDEDMASSANDOSCILLATIONFREQUENCYFORACIRCULAR
CYLINDERSUBJECTEDTOVORTEXINDUCEDVIBRATIONSANDEXTERNAL
DISTURBANCE",JournalofFluidsandStructures,200010
Vicente,M,DGonzlez,andGFu."Dynamicandstaticloadtestingofhighspeedrail
bridges",BridgeMaintenanceSafetyManagementandLifeExtension,2014.
Park,K.S.,Y.T.Kim,D.K.Kim,S.Y.Yu,andH.S.Choi."Anewmethodforstrake
configurationdesignofSteelCatenaryRisers",ShipsandOffshoreStructures,2015.
H.Moghbelli."A100wattpowersupplyusingZVSboostconverter",Proceedingsof
1995IEEEAppliedPowerElectronicsConferenceandExpositionAPEC95APEC95,
1995
Gabbai,R.D.."Anoverviewofmodelingandexperimentsofvortexinducedvibration
ofcircularcylinders",JournalofSoundandVibration,20050422
T.K.PRASANTH."VortexinducedvibrationsofacircularcylinderatlowReynolds
numbers",JournalofFluidMechanics,01/2008
Sarpkaya,T.."Acriticalreviewoftheintrinsicnatureofvortexinducedvibrations",
JournalofFluidsandStructures,200405
T.K.Prasanth."Freev/sforcedvibrationsofacylinderatlowRe",International
JournalofComputationalFluidDynamics,09/2008
M.Tognarelli."VIVResponseofaLongFlexibleCylinderinUniformandLinearly
ShearedCurrents",ProceedingsofOffshoreTechnologyConferenceOTC,05/2004
Sumer,."Flowinducedvibrationsofafreecylinderinsteadycurrents",Advanced
SeriesonOceanEngineering,2006.
Dahl,J.M.."Twodegreeoffreedomvortexinducedvibrationsusingaforceassisted
apparatus",JournalofFluidsandStructures,200608/10

Abstract
Construction of pipelines laid on the seabed is usually the most common in the industry
because of its economic and speed of laying implications. However, this method of pipeline
construction has a challenge of the formation of several free spans all through the route as a
result of uneven seabed. This project presents an alternative to solution other re-routing of
the pipelines, A floating pipeline submerged in water. This ideas dispells the premise that
submarine pipelines should be placed on the seabed. With this concept, the submarine
pipeline will be installed at a certain distance above the seabed, above the uneven seabed
bathymetry and it will be moored or tethered to the seabed to keep its position.
This project to presents some key features of the float-pipe, analysed the structural behaviour
and VIV response of the float-pipe under uniform current load as well as its fatigue life in
order to determine its feasibility. A four-span model with distance of 2000m between
mooring points was. A sensitivity analysis was also carried out in order to monitor the
influence of certain parameters like increase in span length, increase in current speed and the
effect of discrete buoyancy modules on the structural response.
Based on the result of the fatigue damage, it was concluded that the float-pipe with 2000m
span length is feasible, the 12th mode was predicted for vortex induced vibration, however it
was observed that the vibration could be multi-modal based on the pattern noted on the
transverse A/D graph.
Finally the bare pipe was observed to vibrate at higher frequency when compared to the
float-pipe with discrete buoyancy modules, this resulted in a decrease in fatigue damage of
the float-pipe with discrete buoyancy modules and recommendations were made for future
works in order to further determine the feasibility of the concept.
ii
Dedication
This Project is dedicated to my mother, Mrs. Kudirat Oyebisi OLIYIDE. I love you always.
iii
Acknowledgements
After three academic degrees, I must say this has been the most challenging and demanding
of all. I want to thank the almighty God who has made possible for me not only for me to
finish, but also to finish strong.
Firstly, I will like to thank the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Petroleum Technology
Development Fund for making my study at the University of Strathclyde possible by
sponsoring me for this course.
Secondly, I sincerely appreciate Dr Narakorn Srinil for his professional guidance and
tutelage my program, most especially during the period of this research, I have had many
lecturers, but you are different.
I appreciate my mother, Kudirat Oyebisi, OLIYIDE for her love and commitment from
cradle till now, God bless you ma. To all those behind the scene, I appreciate you all, my
siblings; the Oliyides and family, my treasure; Osebhahiemen, friend and brother; Owoyele,
baby sister; Princess EbunOluwa, first next-of-kin in Glasgow; Asi-Onob and to my pals;
Akinola, Adeola and Hi Wunmi, I have learnt that our lives will be more changed by human
relationships than by technology, God calls us all blessed. Finally the scriptures prevail in
all things
Abiodun Aremu OLIYIDE,

University of Strathclyde,
2014/2015
iv
Table of Content
Copyright Declaration ................................................................................................... i

Abstract ........................................................................................................................ ii
Dedication ................................................................................................................... iii
Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... iv
Table of Content........................................................................................................... v
List of Figures ........................................................................................................... viii
List of Tables ............................................................................................................... x
1.
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background ................................................................................................... 1
1.1.2
General Concept of the Float-pipe ......................................................... 2
1.2 Aim and Scope of the Project ........................................................................ 3

2.
LITRATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... 5

2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 5
2.2
Offshore Pipelines ......................................................................................... 6
2.2.1
2.3
3.
Types of Pipelines and Concepts ........................................................... 6
Vortex-induced Vibrations ............................................................................ 7
2.3.2
Transverse Motion ............................................................................... 11
2.3.2
Drag and Lift Forces ............................................................................ 11
2.3.3
Lock-in Phenomenon ........................................................................... 12
2.3.4
Reduced Velocity ................................................................................. 13
2.4
Vortex-induced Vibration of Rigid Cylinders ............................................. 13
2.5
Vortex-induced Vibration of Flexible Circular Cylinders........................... 14
MODELLING APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY .................................... 16
3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 16

3.2
4.
Composition of the Model ........................................................................... 16
3.2.1
Lines ..................................................................................................... 17
3.2.2
6D Buoys.............................................................................................. 17
3.2.3
Links..................................................................................................... 18
3.3
Building the Model ...................................................................................... 18
3.3
Challenges Encountered in Building the Model in Orcaflex....................... 20
FLOAT-PIPE ANALYSIS ................................................................................ 21

3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 21
3.2
5.
Types of Analysis carried out on the Float-pipe ......................................... 22
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ........................................................................ 23

5.1 Modal Analysis............................................................................................ 23
5.2 Natural Frequency ....................................................................................... 26
5.3
6.
7.
Dynamic Analysis and Results .................................................................... 27
5.3.1
Summary Results for Float Pipe .......................................................... 27
5.3.2
Summary Result for Buoyancy Tank .................................................. 31
5.4
Vortex-induced Vibration Result ................................................................ 33
5.5
Fatigue Analysis and Result ....................................................................... 36
SENSITIVITY STUDY ..................................................................................... 38

6.1
Effect of Current Speed on the Modes Excited ........................................... 38
6.2
Effect of Span Length on the Modes Excited.............................................. 39
6.3
Effect of Span Length on the Natural Frequency ........................................ 40
6.4
Effect of Span Length on Transverse A/D .................................................. 41
6.5
Effect of Span Length on Fatigue Damage ................................................. 43
6.6
Effect of Discrete Buoyancy on the Response and Fatigue Damage .......... 44
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................... 47
vi
7.1
Conclusion ................................................................................................... 47
7.2
Recommendations for Future Research Works ........................................... 47
References .................................................................................................................. 49
Appendix A: Design of the Float-pipe ................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appendix B: Design of floaters as required in OrcaflexError!
Bookmark
not
defined.6
Appendix C: Output properties of the Pipeline and floaters from Orcaflex ... Error!
Bookmark not defined.8
Appendix D: Design of the Buoyancy Tank ........ Error! Bookmark not defined.9
Appendix E: Calculations Relating to VIV............ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appendix F: Transverse and In-Line displacement of selected nodes ............ Error!
Bookmark not defined.
Appendix G: Transverse Mode Shapes .................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
vii
List of Figures
Figure 1: Illustration of the Application of the Floating Pipeline (Asle Venas et. al., 2015) ................. 2
Figure 2: Float-pipe crossing a very Large Valley (Asle Venas et. al., 2015) ........................................ 5
Figure 3: Vortex shedding in a uniform current (Larsen, 2011) ............................................................. 8
Figure 4: Cross Flow (CF) and In-Line (IL) motion of a cylindrical structure (Larsen, 2011) .............. 8
Figure 5: Graph of Strouhal number against Reynolds number for cylinder (Zhao, 2011) .................. 10
Figure 6: Vortex shedding pattern for different Reynold number (Lienhard., 1966) ........................... 11
Figure 7: Drag and Lift Forces Traces (Mutlu, 2006)........................................................................... 12
Figure 8: 3D View of the Float-pipe Model in Orcaflex ...................................................................... 16
Figure 9: The Model of the Float-pipe in Orcaflex ............................................................................... 19
Figure 10: Horizontal displacement of the Float-pipe under incident current ...................................... 22
Figure 11: Transverse mode shape from 1 - 15 (x-axis) ....................................................................... 24
Figure 12: Transverse mode shape from 1 - 15 (y-axis) ....................................................................... 24
Figure 13: Transverse mode shape from 1 - 15 (z-axis) ....................................................................... 24
Figure 14: Shape of Mode 7 x-axis ....................................................................................................... 25
Figure 15: Shape of Mode 7 y-axis ....................................................................................................... 25
Figure 16: Shape of Mode 7 z-axis ....................................................................................................... 25
Figure 17: Graph of Natural Frequency against mode number............................................................. 27
Figure 18: Effective tension in the float-pipe at the mooring points .................................................... 29
Figure 19: Bending Stress in the float-pipe at the mooring points ....................................................... 29
Figure 20: Von mises stress in the float-pipe at the mooring points ..................................................... 30
Figure 21: Displacement of the buoyancy tank on the y-axis (in-line) ................................................. 32
Figure 22: Displacement of the buoyancy tank in the z-axis (Cross flow) ........................................... 32
Figure 23: Transverse A/D.................................................................................................................... 34
Figure 24: Comparison of drag (in-line) and lift (crossflow) forces ..................................................... 34
Figure 25: Magnitude of the vortex force ............................................................................................. 35
Figure 26: Transverse displacement of node 401 ................................................................................. 35
Figure 27: In-Line displacement of node 401 ....................................................................................... 35
Figure 28: Comparison of drag displacement of the float-pipe for 3 nodes ......................................... 36
Figure 29: Effect of span length of Natural Frequency......................................................................... 41
Figure 30: Transverse A/D for span equal 200m .................................................................................. 41
Figure 31: Transverse A/D for span equal 500m .................................................................................. 42
Figure 32: Transverse A/D for span equal 1000m ................................................................................ 42
viii
Figure 35: 3-D Model of the float-pipe in Orcaflex showing discrete buoyancy ................................. 45
ix
List of Tables
Table 1: Neutrally Buoyant Properties of the Float-Pipe (Output from Orcaflex) ............................... 21
Table 2: Natural Period and Frequency of the Float-Pipe..................................................................... 26
Table 3: End conditions of the float-pipe.............................................................................................. 27
Table 4: Mid segment load on the float-pipe ........................................................................................ 28
Table 5: Components of the mid segment load on the float-pipe ......................................................... 28
Table 6: Position Report for Buoyancy Tank 1 & 3 ............................................................................. 31
Table 7: Position Report for Buoyancy Tank 2 .................................................................................... 31
Table 8: Connection Report for Buoyancy Tank 1 & 3 ........................................................................ 31
Table 9: Connection Report for Buoyancy Tank 2 ............................................................................... 31
Table 10: Prediction of VIV using Natural Frequency and Reduced Velocity ..................................... 33
Table 11: Fatigue analysis results for span equal 2000m ..................................................................... 36
Table 12: Effect of increasing current speed on the mode of vibration that is excited ......................... 38
Table 13: Effect of span length on the mode of vibration that is excited ............................................. 39
Table 14: Increase in span length showing predicted mode ................................................................. 40
Table 15: Number of crest in A/D graph versus span length ................................................................ 43
Table 16: Effect of Span Length on Fatigue Life ................................................................................. 44
Table 17: Effect of discrete buoyancy on fatigue damage .................................................................... 46
1.
1.1
INTRODUCTION
Background
With recent increase in the development of oil and gas fields in deep and ultra-deep waters,
the challenges associated with oil and gas exploration in these kind of harsh environments
are also becoming more pronounced. New pipeline routes are also being designed to
transport oil and gas from one place to another, however uneven seabed topography is one of
the major challenges of submarine pipeline as they aid the formation of several free spans
and this poses a major threat to the structural integrity of the pipeline. Hence, the selection of
appropriate route is very important in the design of submarine pipelines. In order to avoid the
several challenges posed by rugged seabed topography and other geo-hazards for example
turbidity flow which serves as a source of large load on a free spanning pipelines, the
pipeline is usually re-routed or a large amount of intervention work is required such as
dredging and rock dumping, this is to reduce the free-spanning length to an acceptable range
by the code.
However, due to the presence of many obstacles and limitations, it is difficult to find a
totally obstruction free route (Koushan, 2009) and several required ruotes have not been able
to be develped because of the challenges of uneven seabed. In order to overcome some of
these challenges posed by uneven seabed bathymetry, a new idea was proposed by (Asle
Venas et.al., 2015) A floating pipeline submerged in water. This ideas dispells the premise
that submarine pipelines should be placed on the seabed. With this concept, the submarine
pipeline will be installed at a certain distance above the seabed, above the uneven seabed
bathymetry and it will be moored or tethered to the seabed to keep its position. This type of
submarine pipeline can be used is an area of rugged seabed that spans several kilometers
(Gunner Paulsen et. al., 2000). The concept of the floating pipeline submerged in water was
developed based on the current offshore pipeline technology with components which are
comparable and also scaleable and the floatpipe will serve the same funconal purpose as a
traditional pipeline.
There are several advantages of removing the pipeline from the seabed which includes;
Minimum need for Intervention work and also reduces the need for re-routing the pipeline
network through a longer ruote due to the uneven nature of the seabed in a bid to avoid
several free spans. (Asle Venas et. al, 2015), Also it reduced the materials needed in the
ultra-deep waters as the pipelne is placed above the seabed which mans that the total
hydrostatic pressure on the pipeline will be reduced, hence a thinner wall thicness will be
required. Additionally, there is an reduction in the footprint of the pipline, this inturn should
lead to a reduction in the geohazzards related to the seabed and also a reduction in the
interferrence of the pipline with an invironmental sensitive seabed. The concept of a floating
pipeline totally submerged in water has been proposed before, but mainly for short distances
and mainly for transportation of freshwater (Zoetermeer, 2003).
Figure 1: Illustration of the Application of the Floating Pipeline (Asle Venas et. al., 2015)
1.1.2
General Concept of the Float-pipe
The float-pipe will be placed at certain distance above the seabed, however below the region
of the interference from waves and will be moored to the seafloor in order to restrain its
movement. The float-pipe is designed to be neutrally buoyant such that the weight in water
will be as close to zero as possible, this is to reduce the load on the pipeline and the mooring
lines when compared to sinking or positively buoyant pipelines. The neutrally buoyant
nature of the float-pipe also allows for longer span between the mooring lines since there
will be little or no bending in the pipe in the statics analysis.
The float-pipe concept consist in general of;
Buoyancy modules to keep the pipe neutrally buoyant throughout the life of the
pipeline. This could either be uniform buoyancy modules or distributed buoyancy
modules
Tethers or mooring lines to keep the pipeline in position and also to control the mode
shape of oscillations of the pipeline
Seabed anchors, this is to transfer the vertical and horizontal loads from the pipeline
and the mooring or tethers to the seabed
Buoyancy Tanks, this ensures that the mooring chains or tethers are always in
tension and will provide the required restoring force for the dynamics of the system
There are several key aspects/ features of the Float-pipe that required in-depth investigation,
the following factors are very important in the analysis and design of the float-pipe, but not
all will be covered in this project.
The Static Configuration of the float-pipe and the optimised distance between two
tether points
The Dynamic behaviour of the float-pipe, coupled with the Vortex Induced
Vibration and the Fatigue life of the float pipe
A cable effect and multi-modal excitation
Interaction between the vertical tethers and the horizontal float-pipes
The type of the seabed anchor (suction pile or clump weight) and the type of
materials to be used.
The Installation of the float-pipe and pressure testing after installation
Transition from the float-pipe to a subsea structure or a pipeline on the seabed
Cost and potential savings analysis
Effect of marine growth on the float-pipe
1.2
Aim and Scope of the Project
This project aims to present some key features of the float-pipe, analyse the structural
behaviour and VIV response of the under dynamic load as well as the fatigue life of the
Float-pipe. In order to achieve this a four-span model with distance of 2000m between
mooring points as suggested by (Asle Venas et. al., 2015) will be considered. Full static
analysis of the float-pipe will be carried out to determine the static configuration, bending
moments, effective tension and stresses. The dynamic analysis of the float-pipe will study
the
To achieve this aim, the following objectives will be addressed;
Create a 3-dimensional model of the float-pipe in Orcaflex
Achieve a neutrally buoyant pipeline with the effective weight of the float-pipe as
close to zero as possible
Carry out Static and Modal analyses of the Float-pipe
Calculate the mode shape for different modes of vibration from the modal analysis
Determine the natural frequencies of the float-pipe in order to determine the

occurrence of resonance
Study the effect of varying the span length on natural frequency of vibration of the
float-pipe
Monitoring of the response of the Vortex Induced Vibration under dynamic loading
Study the effect of current speed on the VIV response
Carry out Fatigue Analysis on the float-pipe and determine the fatigue life
Study the effect of buoyancy modules (discrete and continuous) on the Vortex
Induced Vibration response
2.
2.1
LITRATURE REVIEW
Introduction
Marine pipelines have a very important role in the oil and gas industry all over the .world,
where pipelines are used to transport oil and gas from one point to another, they could also
be used to tieback a remote or marginal production well to a processing facility over several
kilometres away. These pipelines are usually laid on the seabed either buried in the seabed
soil or unburied, which is laid on the bare seabed. Construction of pipelines laid on the
seabed is usually the most common in the industry because of its economic and speed of
laying implications. However, this method of pipeline construction has a challenge of the
formation of several free spans all through the route as a result of uneven seabed. (Abbas
Yageneh et. al., 2007) noted in their technical report that The occurrence of free spanning in
unburied pipelines is completely inevitable. In addition to the challenges posed by free
spanning pipelines there is also usually an emergence of a need to cross a very deep and
steep valley as shown in figure 2, this gives rise to a free span which is more than the
allowable by the DNV code (DNV, 2006).The foat-pipe has been proposed in a bid to
overcome
these
challenges
Figure 2: Float-pipe crossing a very Large Valley (Asle Venas et. al., 2015)
This concept has been proposed before basically for the use of polyvinyl chloride (PCV)
pipe for the transportation of freshwater over a certain distance. (Zoetermeer, 2003)
Proposed the use of Submerged floating High Density Polyhene (HDPE) pipe for the
transportation of freswater from Turkey to Cyprus. He however noted that The present
available material specification for the HDPE are not sufficient enough for the final
structural design (Zoetermeer, 2003), he however proposed a distance of 500m between
mooring points for further inestigation. (Asle Venas et. al, 2015) in a paper presented at the
Offhore Mediterenean Conference and Exhibition proposed the concept for a high pressure
oil and gas pipelines and suggested a distance of 2000m between mooring points
2.2
Offshore Pipelines
The construction of pipelines to transport petroleum is dated back before 1947, these
pipelines were constructed in the Caspian Sea and the shallow waters of the Gulf of
Maracaibo (Palmer A. C., 2004). Since then, several pipelines have been designed and
construted all over the world which connects offshore facilities to the land and today, these
pipelines form an integral part of the oil and gas industry. Pipeline is the most prefered form
of transportation of oil and gas today due to the following reasons (Subramanian, 2013);
Safety
Environmental Friendly
Less energy requirement for transportation
Low maintenance cost during operation
Little or low impact on land use pattern
Little or no loss of product in transit
High Reliability
Offshore pipelines have been installed successfully in deep water with depth 2000 meters
while research is ongoing on for the feasibility of installing pipelines in ultra-deep water
with depth greater than 3000 meters. In this section, I will briefly discuss pipeline in
relations to the offshore industry.
2.2.1
Types of Pipelines and Concepts
Rigid Pipes: Rigid pipes are made of carbon steel with several other kinds of alloying
materials, they are the most common types of pipeline and this is due to the ease method of
fabrication. There are different concept of rigid pipelines such as single pipes, pipe-in-pipe,
and sandwich, the single pipe made of carbon steel are the most common pipelines used in
the offshore industry and this is due to their high strength and, relatively low cost of
fabrication and a very good mechanical properties. Several rigid pipelines with different
degree of toughness, strength, weldability and ductility have been developed for use on
shallow to deep waters depending on the required properties. Some of the challenges of the
rigid pipelines are its relatively large self-weight and external corrosion since it is made of
carbon steel. Rigid pipelines are also susceptible to higher number of fatigue cycles due to
their rigidity when compared with flexible pipelines
Flexible Pipes: Flexible pipelines as the name implies are flexible when compared to rigid
pipelines, they are made from different layers and are of different sections of metals,
polymers and thermoplastics materials with each layers having different functions from
inside-out and are usually unbonded this allow the layers to slide relative to each other.
There are five key components that can be combines up to four to nineteen layers. They
components include; The Carcass, made of stainless steel it is used for internal pressure
resistance; Internal sheath, made of polymer which serve as a barrier to contain the internal
fluid; Pressure Armour, made of carbon steel and it serves as hoop load resistance; Tensile
Armour, which is also made of Carbon Steel and it is used for tensile load resistance and the
External Sheath which is also made of polymer and serves as the external fluid barrier
(Narakorn, 2014). The major advantage of the flexible pipes when compared to rigid pipes is
their excellent dynamic characteristics. However, it is important to note that they are very
expensive to be used as flowlines over a long distance
Composite Pipes: These are pipelines that are made from composite materials for example
epoxy that is reinforced with glass or carbon fibre or with silicon nitride. This method
provides a pipeline with a very high strength and removes completely the disadvantage of
corrosion in. However, composite pipelines are very expensive hence it is not very popular
2.3
Vortex-induced Vibrations
Slender structures in water such as marine risers, free spanning pipelines and anchor lines
that are usually exposed to currents may experience vibrations. These types of vibrations are
caused by forces which are from the vortices that are shed from the sides of the slender
structure. This is where the name vortex induced vibration came from (Larsen, 2011).
Several works have been done on vortex induced vibrations by (Sarpkaya, 1979) and
(Sarpkaya, 2004) and other researchers like (Williamson, 2004) and (Bearman, 1984). An
experiment that review the behaviour of a flexible cylinder which was restricted to move in
the transverse to the flow direction was conducted by (Feng, 1968). The experiment of Feng
revealed several important details of vortex induced vibrations and that is the reason why his
work is usually made reference to. An increased length of a particular cylindrical structure
usually lowers its natural frequency and this in turn lowers the magnitude of current that is
required to excite a vortex induced vibration. The vortex shedding is associated with the full
cycle for the shedding process, this implies that two vortices are shed in a complete cycle
from each side of the cylindrical structure as shown in the figure 3 below
Figure 3: Vortex shedding in a uniform current (Larsen, 2011)
The vortex shedding frequency is defined as the frequency between the two vortices that are
present on each side of the cylindrical structure. The vortex shedding frequency depends on
the velocity of the incident current and it increases with increase in currents velocity. This
induces a very high frequency cyclic stresses in the structure and this can result in fatigue
damage (Qiang Bai, 2005). There is usually a development of force around such cylindrical
structures, this is because these vortices alter the distribution of pressure around the pipe.
The forces are called drag force and lift force, they are usually defines locally as the crossflow and in-line direction relative to the direction of flow of the incoming current as shown
in figure 4 below. The frequency of the lift force is equal to the vortex shedding frequency
while the frequency of the drag force is twice the vortex shedding frequency. This implies
that, the in-line frequency is two times the cross-flow frequency
Figure 4: Cross Flow (CF) and In-Line (IL) motion of a cylindrical structure (Larsen, 2011)
Vortex induced vibration is a vibration that occur at resonance, this implies that the vortex
shedding frequency will increase for an increase in current velocity and the cylindrical
structure will begin to oscillate in the in-line direction at a lower reduced velocity when
compared to the cross-flow (Larsen, 2011).
2.3.1
Vortex shedding frequency
Vortex shedding is a phenomenon that describe an unsteady oscillating flow that usually
takes place at certain conditions when a moving fluid flows around a structure, most
especially around cylindrical structures. Vortices are usually created behind such structures
and are detached periodically from each side of the structure, this results in what is known as
Von Karman Vortex Street. A pattern of asymmetrical flow develops around the cylindrical
structure due to periodic shedding and change in the distribution of pressure behind the
structure. Lift and drag forces will be created on the structure from the low pressure region
which follow the vortices. The harmonically varying loads that results from the shedding
induces a vibration at the same frequency as that of the vortex shedding frequency. After
they are separated, the pattern of the vortices continues further away from the cylinder and
the energy present in the vortices is consumed and the regular pattern disappears (Green.,
1995)
The vortex shedding frequency is estimated by Strouhal number, a non-dimensional
proportionality constant between the vortex shedding frequency and the current velocity
divided by the diameter of the cylinder as given in equation below.
Where,
U = Free stream velocity

= Vortex shedding frequency in Hz
D = Diameter of the cylinder
= Strouhal number
Reynolds number and Strouhal number both depend on the diameter of the cylinder and the
velocity of flow. From experiments, it has been shown that there is a relationship between
the Reynolds number and Strouhal number (Lienhard., 1966). The Strouhal number of a
stationary circular cylinder is a function of Reynolds number as shown in the figure 5 below.
Reynolds numbers related to risers are in general in the sub-critical regime, which
corresponds to 0.2.
Figure 5: Graph of Strouhal number against Reynolds number for cylinder (Zhao, 2011)
The Reynolds number is used to indicate a flow regimes. Vortex shedding is seen in all these
regimes, but it has different pattern. Figure 6 below is a representation of how the vortex
pattern depends on the Reynolds number. (Lienhard., 1966)
10
Figure 6: Vortex shedding pattern for different Reynold number (Lienhard., 1966)
2.3.2
Transverse Motion
An experiment that review the behaviour of a flexible cylinder which was restricted to move
in the transverse to the flow direction was conducted by (Feng, 1968). The experiment of
Feng revealed several important details of vortex induced vibrations and that is the reason
why his work is usually made reference to.
2.3.2
Drag and Lift Forces
When a cylinder is exposed to a steady flow with Reynolds number greater than 40, it
experience oscillating forces whose origin is the vortex shedding. The pressure distribution
at the surrounding of the cylinder undergoes a change as the vortex shedding progresses and
this also leads to a variation in the forces per unit period. From figure 6 below, it is shown
that the lift force acting on the cylinder oscillates at a frequency that is equal to the vortex
shedding frequency while the drag force oscillates at twice the vortex shedding frequency
(Zhao, 2011). However, the amplitude of the vibration varies is not constant, it varies per
unit period.
11
Figure 7: Drag and Lift Forces Traces (Mutlu, 2006)
2.3.3
Lock-in Phenomenon
If the vortex shedding frequency is close to any of the natural frequency of vibration of the
structure, resonance will occur and the structure will begin to vibrate at the same frequency
as the vortex shedding frequency this phenomenon is known as "lock-in" (Gharib, 1999).
The term Lock-in, also referred as synchronization is critical and a large damaging vibrations
takes place when the structure becomes "locked-in" and it can occur within a range of
frequencies. When a structure is in the lock-in region, the vortex shedding frequency is
usually determined by the eigenfrequency of the structure. As the shedding frequency
becomes locked in to an eigenfrequency of the cylindrical body, its relationship to Strouhal
number vanishes and a new parameter emerges which is known as reduced velocity. When
the velocity is higher or lower than the critical lock-in velocity, the vortex shedding
frequency follows the normal Strouhal relationship described above in section 2.3.1. (Feng,
1968) In his experiment carried out in order to investigate the response of a cylindrical
structure due to current increased the speed of the incident flow in small steps, there was no
vibration noticed in the cylinder until reduced velocity
= 4 at this value of reduced
velocity vibration was noticed and it continued up to the value of a reduced velocity
= 8.5.
It was observed that the frequency of vibration of the cylinder was relatively close to the undamped natural frequency of the cylinder in air in the range where a non-zero displacement
was found. Normally, the vortex shedding frequency will always follow Strouhal
12
relationship for a static cylinder except in a range of reduced velocity where the oscillation
frequency and the vortex shedding frequency were almost equal to each other and are both
close to the natural frequency of the system, this phenomenon is called lock-in and this is
where the highest responses were observed in terms of amplitude. (Francisco, 2006). In the
lock-in range, the shedding of vortex is no longer controlled by the Strouhal relationship, but
by the motion of the cylinder.
2.3.4
Reduced Velocity
The reduced velocity becomes important when the structure starts to vibrate due to vortex
induced vibration. The reduced velocity provides information about the velocity range in
which vortex induced vibration can occur. The reduced velocity of the structure can be
determined for each eigenfrequency. It is possible for vortex shedding to appear for all the
reduced velocity, but it is usually coupled with the amplitude of vibration of the structure. It
has been shown that the amplitude of vibration reaches a maximum and becomes locked in
for different reduced velocity
Where,
U = Free stream velocity

= Natural frequency
D = Diameter of the cylinder
2.4
Vortex-induced Vibration of Rigid Cylinders
Several studies have been carried out with respect to one degree of freedom cylinders, that is
cylinders restricted to move only in the transverse direction while researches with rigid
cylinders that are allowed to move in both the transverse and in-line motion are not common
(Francisco, 2006). There is an argument about if results that are obtained with one degree of
freedom cylinders which is free to move either in the transverse or the in-line direction can
be assumed to be similar to the results of two degree of freedom cylinders which are able to
move simultaneously in both the transverse and the in-line direction. (Jeon, 2001) carried out
an experiment with a circular cylinder oscillating with both one and two degrees of freedom
in a low speed water tank, Digital Particle Velocimetry method was used to identify the
vortex structure in the wake and the forces were measured with strain measurement. Several
qualitative differences were observed when the in-line degree of freedom was allowed. They
13
observed the disappearance of the two pairs of vortices per cycle model of shedding that
was observed when studying only the transverse motion and also that the in-line movement
was affecting the phase between the lift and the transverse movement. The values of
circulations were also found to be higher in the case of the two degree of freedom.
(Jauvtis, 2003) carried out an experiment with both the natural frequency of the cylinder in
the transverse and the in-line directions were equal. They discovered that the freedom to
oscillate at the same time transversely and in-line to the incident flow does not modify the
response branches, the wake modes and the forces in the cylinders when the mass ratio was
larger than 6. However, when the mass ratio is less than 6, they discovered a new response
branch in which the peal amplitude is considerably large with a vortex structure in which
double triplets of vortices per cycle were formed in the wake.
2.5
Vortex-induced Vibration of Flexible Circular Cylinders
Predicting vortex-induced vibration is a very important aim, but the ultimate aim of all
researches in this field in the past few decades has been to be able to either control or supress
it. Few questions arises when it comes to flexible cylinders and on top of the list of questions
id availability of information when compared to the information available for rigid cylinders
and the other issue is that the result in most situations are not directly applicable from one
condition to another (Francisco, 2006). The key issues as listed by Francisco in his report
when designing realistic campaigns for flexible model are noted below;
The number of the sensors on the structure has to be enough in order to resolve the
mode shapes. The installation of evenly spaced sensors along the structure, the total
of which should be enough for the highest number of mode expected is the best
practice, but this is usually not achieved
The emergence tension is very important and together with a correct displacement
information, force data can be generated and this is not common in literature
The need to determine the forces on the cylindrical structure at several points
without interfering with the flow is difficult and (Francisco, 2006) noted that to the
best of his knowledge, there is no available data as regards this aspect in past
literature.
The structures that are used to support and hold the models need to be designed
carefully in order for their natural frequencies to be far from the expected ones
during experiments
14
It is important to note that the vibrations of long and flexible structures are usually
characterised by multi-frequency and multi-modal vibrations and this makes the vortexinduced vibrations problems of long and flexible structures complex. Under normal
situations, vortex shedding will usually excite more than one modes of vibration of the
structure, this implies that the flexural stiffness and the axial tension of the materials are
parameters that are very important to take note in determining the overall response. If the
structure is subjected to only a uniform flow, (Francisco, 2006) noted that it is only one
dominant frequency that will be observed which comes from the only source of excitation
which is the vortex shedding. He noted that several experiments have been carried out in the
past in the laboratory under shear flow but when the literatures were reviewed, the
mechanisms that governs that VIV are still unclear and the tools for its predictions are not
reliable. Listed below are the basic questions that researchers in the past years have been
trying to find answers to when working with long and flexible structures;
What are the modes of vibration that will be excited when the structure is exposed to
a specific incident current condition?
Which amplitudes will be of relevance to be observed?
How the maximum displacements or amplitudes get distributed along the length of
the structure
Which frequencies and modes will be dominant?
What is the relationship between the transverse and in-line displacements?
Is there a presence of travelling wave on the structure?
What does the forces that generates the vibrations look like?
This thesis on float-pipe will try to answer some of these questions as it behaves like a cable
during analysis.
15
3.
3.1
MODELLING APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY
Introduction
In this section, I will explain the approach used in the modelling of the float-pipe in Orcaflex
in order to carry out the different required analysis. I will also give a brief description of the
various elements used in the modelling. Finally, I will also highlight the steps to be followed
in creating the model in Orcaflex. This chapter basically is written according to Orcaflex
user manual, (Orcina, 2014).
3.2
Composition of the Model
In order to carry out an analysis of a particular system in Orcaflex, a mathematical model of

the real world system must first be built by using the different available facilities that are
provided in Orcaflex software (Orcina, 2014). The entire float-pipe model consist of a
marine environment in which the whole system is subjected to and a number of other objects
placed in the environment which are usually connected together are required in real life. The
object represent the float-pipe that is being analysed while the environment includes the
current, waves train and other conditions to which the float-pipe is subjected to. The
following elements from Orcaflex were used in the modelling of the entire system. Figure 8
below shows the 3-D view of the model in Orcaflex with the various elements which include
the buoyancy tank, mooring chains and the pipe itself.
Figure 8: 3D View of the Float-pipe Model in Orcaflex
16
3.2.1
Lines
Lines in Orcaflex are flexible linear elements that are used to model different objects like
pipelines, cables, chains risers and other similar objects. Lines in Orcaflex are represented
using lumped mass model. This implies that the entire length of the of the line is modelled as
a series of continuous lump masses joined together by a spring of negligible mass, like the
necklace beads. The individual lump masses are called nodes while the spring joining them
are called segments. Each piece of segment represent a short line that its properties
(buoyancy, mass, drag etc.) have been lumped for the purpose of modelling at the nodes and
ends (Orcina, 2014). The float-pipe was modelled in Orcaflex as lines after which the
properties we designed to fit the neutrally buoyant purpose as required in real life. Please see
appendix A for detailed calculation
3.2.2
6D Buoys
6D buoys as the name implied are rigid bodied which are able to move in all the six degrees
of freedom, that is, Orcaflex is able to calculate both their translational motion as well as
their rotational motion. 6D buoys have mass and moment of inertia and it enables modelling
of forces and moments. 6D buoys in Orcaflex could be modelled in three different ways as
described below.
3.2.2.1 Lump Buoy
Lumped buoys in Orcaflex are buoys that are usually specified without any reference to a
particular geometry and this usually limit the accuracy with which its interaction with water
surface are modelled. When a lumped buoy in Orcaflex extrudes beyond the surface, it is
usually treated for the purpose of buoyancy as a vertical element whose length is equal to the
height of the buoy that has been specified.
3.2.2.2 Spar Buoy
In Orcaflex, the second type of buoy is known as the Spar buoy, these kinds of buoys are
usually used for modelling an axi-symmetric buoys, that is buoys whose axes are usually
vertical, most especially when surface piercing effects are very important, for example a
CALM buoy. Spar buoys in Orcaflex are usually modelled in form of a co-axial cylindrical
shapes which are mounted end to end along the z-axis. This enables the user to provide
information about the geometry of the buoy by specifying the total number of cylindrical
shapes, the lengths of each cylinders and the diameters of the co-axial cylinders. In Orcaflex,
a spherical or conical shapes can be achieved by series of small cylinders with gradually
17
increasing or reducing diameters. The buoyancy tank in the model was modelled using the
spar buoy
3.2.2.3 Towed Fish
The last type of 6D buoy that can be modelled in Orcaflex is known as towed fish, this type
of 6D buoy are usually intended for modelling objects like towed fish. Objects whose
principal axes are usually in the horizontal direction. The towed fish buoys are very similar
to the spar type, except for the fact that the co-axial cylinders making up the buoy is laid out
along the horizontal x-axis rather than the vertical z-axis when compared to the spar buoy.
3.2.3
Links
Inks as used in Orcaflex are usually simple springs or dampers that links two points in a
model for example, a line to a buoy, or a line to an anchor. They usually pull two points
together or depending on the usage hold two points apart with the value of a force that is
depends on the relative positions of the two points and their relative velocities. Links can be
used to model wire and chains. There are two different types of links available in Orcaflex
which are Tethers and Springs/Dampers. The tether was used to model the mooring lines that
connects the buoyancy tank to the float-pipe
3.2.3.1 Tethers
Tethers are very simple ties that are capable of taking tension, but no compression just like
mooring lines. For a tether, the un-stretched length and stiffness are usually specified. It is
important to note that the tether will always remain slack and will not apply a force if the
distance between the two ends is less than the specified un-stretched length.
3.2.3.2 Spring/Dampers
The second form of link in Orcaflex combines a spring and an independent damper units.
The spring is capable of taking both tension and compression unlike the tether and it can
have any of linear, piecewise-linear or length-force relationship (Orcina, 2014). The
relationship between the damper velocity and its force can also either be linear or piecewiselinear.
3.3
Building the Model
As discussed before, the entire model used in the analysis consist of three main components
which includes line, buoyancy modules and tethers. In building the, model, a line of length
8000 meters was placed on the graphic user interface (GUI), and then properties of the line
18
were edited to the required baseline property. The two ends of the line were fixed and the
connection stiffness was set to infinity in both the x-axis and y-axis. This simulates a rigidly
fixed end connection for the pipeline. In order for Orcaflex to analyse the line horizontally
and not vertically like a riser, the declination angle had to be set to 90 degree for both end,
this allows Orcaflex to analyse the float-pipe as a horizontal structure. In order to attach a
buoyancy module to make the float-pipe neutrally buoyant, the line set-up wizard was used.
The buoyancy module was attached using a line section that has an equivalent smeared
property of both the base pipe and buoyancy modules combines together. This method is
more convenient and efficient for the load analysis and the design stage, this is because it
allows easy for easy variation in the buoyancy force and does not need a lot of refinement in
the segmentation of the line.
A quick static analysis was run to confirm the pipeline has been modelled correctly and it
has been modelled to be neutrally buoyant, after confirming this stage of model, the float
pipe was anchored to the seabed by the means of a tether and the buoyancy tank was also
modelled to be connected to the float-pipe at designated points as required. After this, the
environment data was set as required, the incident angle of the current was set to 2700, which
is perpendicular to the direction of the float-pipe for maximum impact. Finally, the
modelling of the float-pipe is complete as shown in figure 7 below and the different types of
analysis can be performed as required
Figure 9: The Model of the Float-pipe in Orcaflex
19
3.3
Challenges Encountered in Building the Model in Orcaflex
The success story of this project will not be complete without talking about the
challenges faced in the course of the project. In this section, I will talk about the
challenges I faced in the modelling of the float-pipe.
Orcaflex does not have the capacity to connect two lines, this was the major
challenge faced because the modelling of the complete system involved a connection
between the buoyancy tank and the float-pipe through a mooring line which is
usually denoted in Orcaflex by a chain or synthetic rope. This kind of connection is
usually done with a 3D buoy of negligible properties. However, because the floatpipe has a continuous length of four spans with each length of span equal to 2000m,
this spans also has to be connected with a 3D buoy of negligible properties with
movement of a 3D buoy being restricted in 3 degree of freedom. This gave a
challenge of analysis failure, although the static and modal analysis results were
calculated, the dynamic and other analyses could not run, this was because the
connections with the mooring line had to be allowed to move in 6 degree of freedom.
In order to overcome this challenge, the mooring lines in the model were replaced
with tethers which can perform the same function as the mooring lines and still have
the capacity to be connected to the float-pipe without the use of a 3D buoy. The
properties of the initial mooring chain was later calculated and transferred to the
tethers and the analysis were done successfully.
20
4.
3.1
FLOAT-PIPE ANALYSIS
Introduction
The float-pipe under study had already been described in chapters one and two, this section
will focus on the float-pipe itself and the response analysis of the float-pipe. Since this is a
preliminary design, a water depth of 1000 meters was randomly selected with the pipe
having four continuous spans of 2000 meters each and a total span of 8000 meters. The floatpipe will be submerged at an approximate depth of 900 meters below sea level, which means
it will be located at approximately 100 meters above the mean seabed level. It has been
suggested by (Asle Venas, 2015) that the float-pipe should be placed at a distance that is free
from the movement of the wave and also by (Zoetermeer, 2003) that the distance should be
free from the actions of the submarines and other human activities which can damage the
float-pipe.
The float-pipe was designed to be neutrally buoyant, that is the submerged weight of the pipe
was designed to be as close to zero as possible. See Appendix A for the detailed calculation
of the neutral buoyancy. The output of the neutral buoyancy as generated from Orcaflex
software after series of calculation is shown in the table below.
Table 1: Neutrally Buoyant Properties of the Float-Pipe (Output from Orcaflex)
COMBINED PROPERTIES
[per unit length including contents]

Weight in air: 2.552kN/m (0.260te/m)
Displacement: 2.552kN/m (0.260te/m)
Weight in water: -0.00065kN/m (-66.290E-6te/m)
Diam/Wt Ratio: -874.678m/(kN/m) (-8577.663m/(te/m))
FLOAT PROPERTIES
[per Float]
Volume: 1.954m^3
Mass: 0.818te
Displacement: 19.637kN (2.002te)
Weight in water: -11.618kN (-1.185te)
BASE
LINE
PROPERTIES
TYPE [per unit length including contents]

Weight in water: 1.161kN/m (0.118te/m)
Diam/Wt Ratio: 0.235m/(kN/m) (2.306m/(te/m))
Outer Diameter: 0.273m
21
The load effects to be determined are primarily element forces such as current and drags on
the float-pipe and the stresses that are present in the float-pipe and also the anchoring tethers.
The float pipe will be exposed to an incident horizontal current which will cause a mean
displacement of the float-pipe from its initial position in the direction of the incident flow of
current as shown figure 7 below. A balancing force from the buoyancy tank through the
anchor tethers/moorings will be used to restrain the horizontal displacement of the pipeline
from the mean position as shown below
Figure 10: Horizontal displacement of the Float-pipe under incident current
3.2
Types of Analysis carried out on the Float-pipe
For the purpose of this project, the following types of analysis were carried out on the floatpipe and the results of the analyses are discussed in the next chapter.
Static Analysis
Modal Analysis
Dynamic Analysis
VIV Analysis
Fatigue Analysis
22
5.
5.1
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Modal Analysis
The main aim of carrying out modal analysis on the float-pipe is to determine the natural
mode shapes and the natural frequencies during its free vibration. The float-pipe is a
dynamic structure, this means that it has a well-defined modes of vibration and natural
frequencies and such structures are prone to a very large amplified when vibrating under a
load at a frequency that is close to its natural frequency. Hence, there is a need for its modal
analysis of the float-pipe in order to determine its mode shapes and natural frequencies of
vibration.
Usually, in order to perform the modal analysis, a finite element tool is usually required
because the object being analysed can have arbitrary shapes and a finite element results are
usually more acceptable. In this analysis, Orcaflex software was used to carry out the modal
analysis and results were generated for up to 35 modes.
The static equilibrium configuration of the of the float-pipe should be accounted for in the
modal analysis, hence special attention should be given in defining the stiffness of the end
conditions which sometimes could be the stiffness of the soil. However since only the
suspended span was modelled, the boundary conditions defined at the end of the float-pipe
section was set to infinity in Orcaflex, this represents a rigidly fixed support.
The following figures show the results of the mode transverse mode shapes from mode 1 to
mode 15 that was calculated from Orcaflex. The transverse mode shapes were only
considered because we are only concerned about the cross flow VIV. The modes shapes have
been split into their different components. Please see Appendix B for the whole results of the
mode shapes from mode 1 to mode 15. It is important to note that the first two mode shapes
are dominant in the in-line direction.
23
Figure 11: Transverse mode shape from 1 - 15 (x-axis)
Figure 12: Transverse mode shape from 1 - 15 (y-axis)
Figure 13: Transverse mode shape from 1 - 15 (z-axis)
24
Figure 14: Shape of Mode 7 x-axis
Figure 15: Shape of Mode 7 y-axis
Figure 16: Shape of Mode 7 z-axis
25
5.2
Natural Frequency
Table 2: Natural Period and Frequency of the Float-Pipe
Mode number
Natural Period (s)
Natural Frequency (Hz)
70.29346
0.01423
60.87233
0.01643
53.3433
0.01875
52.0673
0.01921
51.56916
0.01939
48.05822
0.02081
47.96502
0.02085
40.16254
0.0249
32.21109
0.03105
10
28.72396
0.03481
11
28.20272
0.03546
12
26.5094
0.03772
13
25.66468
0.03896
14
24.31989
0.04112
15
24.05543
0.04157
16
24.03306
0.04161
17
20.00824
0.04998
18
18.36332
0.05446
19
18.05825
0.05538
20
17.50665
0.05712
21
16.91373
0.05912
22
16.50027
0.06061
23
16.02266
0.06241
24
16.02244
0.06241
25
14.31896
0.06984
Table 2 above show the natural frequency of vibration of the float-pipe,
26
Figure 17: Graph of Natural Frequency against mode number
5.3
Dynamic Analysis and Results
In this section, the results gotten from the dynamic analysis of the float-pipe will be
presented, the main focus of this analysis is the float-pipe and the buoyancy tank. Orcaflex
can generate a lot of results, however few have been generated to show the behaviour of the
float-pipe and this include, the summary results that show the forces present in the float-pipe
and its end connections as shown in table 3 and 4 below, effective tension, bending stress
and the von-mises stress. The summary report for the buoyancy tank is also stated and the
results of the motion of the buoyancy tank.
5.3.1
Summary Results for Float Pipe
Table 3: End conditions of the float-pipe

Parameters
End A
End B
Total Force (kN)
3438.248
3437.883
End Tension (kN)
3427.572
3427.264
End Shear Force (kN)
270.7299
270.0036
Total Moment (kN.m)
430.2708
429.1361
End Bend Moment (kN.m)
430.2708
429.1361
End Curvature (rad/m)
0.013384
0.013349
End Force Azimuth (deg)
359.8713
0.127849
End Force Declination (deg)
85.48565
94.50271
End Force Ez-angle (deg)
4.516182
4.504521
End Force Exy-angle (deg)
181.6298
1.623053
27
Table 4: Mid segment load on the float-pipe

Mid-Segment Loads on the Float-pipe
Segmen
Effectiv
e
Arc
Lengt
h (m)
800
7995
Shear
Curvatur
Bend
Tension
Force
Radius
(kN)
(kN)
(m)
3437.92
39.78
139.05
3437.56
39.67
139.42
(rad/m)
Bend
Momen
Max
Wall
von
(kN.m)
0.00719
231.193
0.00717
230.586
Mises
Tensio
Stress
n (kN)
(kPa)
2908.1
381281.
2907.8
380724.
Table 5: Components of the mid segment load on the float-pipe

Segment Load Components on the Float-pipe
Shear
Curvature
Bend Moment
Components
Components
Components
Arc
Segment Length
x (kN)
y (kN)
x (rad/m)
(m)
1
800
y
(rad/m)
x (kN.m)
-39.7686
-1.131
0.000205
-0.0071
6.5874
7995
39.6632
1.124
0.000204
-0.0071
6.5440
28
y
(kN.m)
-231.0
-230.4
Figure 18: Effective tension in the float-pipe at the mooring points
Figure 19: Bending Stress in the float-pipe at the mooring points
29
Figure 20: Von mises stress in the float-pipe at the mooring points
30
5.3.2
Summary Result for Buoyancy Tank
Table 6: Position Report for Buoyancy Tank 1 & 3

Position (m)
X
Orientation (deg)
1999.92327 -1.326762
Rotation 1
-778.695442
Rotation 2
-0.0007955
-0.00191878
Rotation 3
8.61E-07
Table 7: Position Report for Buoyancy Tank 2

Position (m)
X
3999.9999
Orientation (deg)
-1.4988414
Rotation 1
-776.73367
Rotation 2
-0.003343
8.73E-05
Rotation 3
1.20E-07
Table 8: Connection Report for Buoyancy Tank 1 & 3

Connection Report
6D Buoy End
Connection to
Link 1a End A
Total
Vertical
Total Force
Force (kN)
Force (kN)
Declination (deg)
412.178702
412.1787017
179.997751
Table 9: Connection Report for Buoyancy Tank 2

Connection Report
6D Buoy End
Connection to
Link 2a End A
Total
Vertical
Total Force
Force (kN)
Force (kN)
Declination (deg)
411.9129647
411.9129641
31
179.9969635
Figure 21: Displacement of the buoyancy tank on the y-axis (in-line)
Figure 22: Displacement of the buoyancy tank in the z-axis (Cross flow)
32
5.4
Vortex-induced Vibration Result
In order to determine or predict whether the float-pipe is expected to undergo vortex-induced

vibration, several guiding parameters were necessary, the first I will talk about being the
reduced velocity, the range of reduced velocity in which VIV is expected to occur depends
on the prevailing condition. The reduced velocity depends on the velocity of the incident
current, natural frequency and the diameter of the float-pipe
In order to predict VIV, we will make use of the natural frequency of the float-pipe that has
already been calculated from Orcaflex during the modal analysis.
Table 10: Prediction of VIV using Natural Frequency and Reduced Velocity
Mode number
Natural Frequency (Hz)
V = 0.1m/s
Fs (Hz)
Ur
0.0122
0.035174
14.42323
0.01487
0.035174
11.83345
0.01717
0.035174
10.24831
0.01735
0.035174
10.14198
0.01835
0.035174
9.589286
0.02077
0.035174
8.471998
0.02079
0.035174
8.463848
0.02169
0.035174
8.112651
0.02821
0.035174
6.237625
10
0.03231
0.035174
5.446097
11
0.03237
0.035174
5.436002
12
0.03549
0.035174
4.958112
13
0.03663
0.035174
4.803806
14
0.04096
0.035174
4.295981
15
0.0415
0.035174
4.240082
16
0.04154
0.035174
4.235999
17
0.04393
0.035174
4.005541
18
0.04569
0.035174
3.851245
19
0.04644
0.035174
3.789048
20
0.04801
0.035174
3.665141
33
From the table above, it can be predicted that Mode 12, highlighted in green is our priority
mode because its natural frequency has the least percentage difference from the vortex
shedding frequency calculated from Strouhal relationship. Then the lock-in region ranges
from mode 5 to mode 10, using the value of reduced velocity 3<Vr<10 highlighted in red,
please see Appendix A for full calculation.
The graph of the transverse A/D against over the length of the float-pipe and the vortex
forces is shown in the following figures;
Figure 23: Transverse A/D
Figure 24: Comparison of drag (in-line) and lift (crossflow) forces
34
Figure 25: Magnitude of the vortex force
Figure 26: Transverse displacement of node 401
Figure 27: In-Line displacement of node 401
35
Figure 28: Comparison of drag displacement of the float-pipe for 3 nodes
5.5
Fatigue Analysis and Result
Fatigue damage as a result of continuous cyclic loading is a major concern in the design of
this float-pipe, vortex induced vibration and stress fluctuations in the float-pipe can cause
little defects to grow and this on the long run can render the float-pipe unfit or cause failure
in the float-pipe. Hence, the float-pipe was evaluated in order to determine the fatigue
damage due to vortex induced vibrations and other cyclic stresses that might be present
during its life time of operation, as earlier discussed in this thesis, as the vortex shedding
frequency approaches the natural frequency of the float-pipe, the float-pipe begins to
resonate and this can cause rapid failure of the float-pipe due to fatigue, hence the need to
carry out fatigue analysis and determine the fatigue life of the float-pipe. Fatigue analysis
was carried out over 100 years exposure period using the Iwan and Blevins wake oscillator
VIV tracking model and the result of the fatigue analysis is shown in the table below.
Table 11: Fatigue analysis results for span equal 2000m
2000m
Damage over Total Exposure
0.75712
Total Exposure Time (years)
99.9316
Life (years)
131.9895
Arc Length (m)
8000.0
Theta (deg)
0.0
SN-curve
S-N Curve1
Radial Position
Outer
SCF
1.0
Thickness Correction Factor
1.0
36
The fatigue capacity of a particular material is usually expressed in S-N curve, which
represent number of cycles to failure. Orcaflex calculates the fatigue damage using a circular
cross-section with a diameter defined from the input .ftg.file, the stresses are calculated
radially on the outer surface of the pipe over the whole arc length. The result of the fatigue
analysis for the float-pipe with unit span length of 2000m is given above with Fatigue life up
to 131.9 years over a total of 100 years total exposure, which is equivalent to 25 years design
life and a factor of safety of 4.
37
6.
6.1
SENSITIVITY STUDY
Effect of Current Speed on the Modes Excited
The float-pipe was subjected to different current speed of values 0.1m/s, 0.2m/s and 0.3m/s
in order to monitor the effect of increase in the speed of the incident current on the mode of
vibration that is predicted to be excited. In order to achieve this, different reduced velocities
for each incident current speed were calculated and the values between 3 and 10 are shown
in red in table 12 below, these values represent the lock-in range. The corresponding vortex
shedding frequencies for each current speed were calculated and the frequencies with the
least percentage difference from the natural frequency were predicted to be excited. Table 12
below show result for the first 20 modes of vibration of the float-pipe.
Table 12: Effect of increasing current speed on the mode of vibration that is excited
Mode
Natural
no.
Frequency
V = 0.1m/s
V = 0.2m/s
V=0.3m/s
Fs (Hz)
Ur
Fs (Hz)
Ur
0.0122
0.035174
14.42323
0.070348
28.846
0.105522 43.269
0.01487
0.035174
11.83345
0.070348
23.666
0.105522 35.500
0.01717
0.035174
10.24831
0.070348
20.496
0.105522 30.744
0.01735
0.035174
10.14198
0.070348
20.283
0.105522 30.425
0.01835
0.035174
9.589286
0.070348
19.178
0.105522 28.767
0.02077
0.035174
8.471998
0.070348
16.944
0.105522 25.415
0.02079
0.035174
8.463848
0.070348
16.927
0.105522 25.391
0.02169
0.035174
8.112651
0.070348
16.225
0.105522 24.337
0.02821
0.035174
6.237625
0.070348
12.475
0.105522 18.712
10
0.03231
0.035174
5.446097
0.070348
10.892
0.105522 16.338
11
0.03237
0.035174
5.436002
0.070348
10.872
0.105522 16.308
12
0.03549
0.035174
4.958112
0.070348
9.9162
0.105522 14.874
13
0.03663
0.035174
4.803806
0.070348
9.6076
0.105522 14.411
14
0.04096
0.035174
4.295981
0.070348
8.5919
0.105522 12.887
15
0.0415
0.035174
4.240082
0.070348
8.4801
0.105522 12.720
16
0.04154
0.035174
4.235999
0.070348
8.4719
0.105522 12.708
17
0.04393
0.035174
4.005541
0.070348
8.0110
0.105522 12.016
18
0.04569
0.035174
3.851245
0.070348
7.7024
0.105522 11.553
19
0.04644
0.035174
3.789048
0.070348
7.5780
0.105522 11.367
20
0.04801
0.035174
3.665141
0.070348
7.3302
0.105522 10.995
38
Fs (Hz)
Ur
From the analysis carried out, when the incident current speed was 0.1m/s, the 12th mode
was predicted to be excited, while the predicted mode jumped to the 32nd mode for current of
0.2m/s. our results also show that the modes excited becomes higher with increase in current
speed. This is dangerous to the float-pipe because resonance will occur at higher mode in the
event of high incident current speed.
6.2
Effect of Span Length on the Modes Excited
Table 13: Effect of span length on the mode of vibration that is excited
Mode Number
Vortex
Shedding
Length of each span of the Float-pipe

200m
500m
1000m
1500m
2000m
Fs 0.1(Hz)
Fn (Hz)
Fn (Hz)
Fn (Hz)
Fn (Hz)
Fn (Hz)
Mode 1
0.035174
0.05006
0.0301
0.02065
0.01659
0.0122
Mode 2
0.035174
0.0652
0.0374
0.02474
0.01945
0.01487
Mode 3
0.035174
0.07787
0.04522
0.02914
0.0225
0.01717
Mode 4
0.035174
0.08087
0.04614
0.02994
0.02308
0.01735
Mode 5
0.035174
0.08426
0.04667
0.03009
0.02327
0.01835
Mode 6
0.035174
0.0979
0.0529
0.03319
0.02524
0.02077
Mode 7
0.035174
0.09797
0.05292
0.03322
0.02527
0.02079
Mode 8
0.035174
0.09801
0.05684
0.03764
0.02956
0.02169
Mode 9
0.035174
0.13205
0.0734
0.04751
0.03697
0.02821
Mode 10
0.035174
0.15226
0.08483
0.05419
0.04177
0.03231
Mode 11
0.035174
0.15502
0.08506
0.05495
0.04251
0.03237
Mode 12
0.035174
0.16846
0.09255
0.0591
0.04542
0.03549
Mode 13
0.035174
0.17906
0.09687
0.06136
0.04698
0.03663
Mode 14
0.035174
0.19821
0.10471
0.06557
0.04986
0.04096
Mode 15
0.035174
0.19824
0.10586
0.06635
0.05043
0.0415
Mode 16
0.035174
0.19826
0.10589
0.06639
0.05047
0.04154
Mode 17
0.035174
0.22891
0.12332
0.07827
0.0601
0.04393
Mode 18
0.035174
0.25444
0.13592
0.08586
0.06569
0.04569
Mode 19
0.035174
0.26404
0.13901
0.08747
0.06687
0.04644
Mode 20
0.035174
0.26527
0.142
0.09001
0.06892
0.04801
Frequency
39
Another parameter considered in the sensitivity study is span, the span of the float-pipe was
also varied in order to monitor the effect of change in span in the mode of vibration that will
be excited, table 13 above show the five different spans of the float-pipe subject to a constant
uniform speed of 0.1m/s. The corresponding natural frequencies for different mode of
vibrations are also recorded and compared with the predicted vortex shedding frequency
which is constant as a result of constant speed of incident current. It was observed that the
predicted mode that is excited increases with an increase in the length of the free span of the
float-pipe. The result for the five different span lengths hat were used is summarised in table
14 below.
Table 14: Increase in span length showing predicted mode
6.3
Span length
Predicted mode
200m
500m
Mode 2
1000m
Mode 7
1500m
Mode 9
2000m
Mode 12
Effect of Span Length on the Natural Frequency
A parametric study was carried out to study the effect of span length on the natural
frequency of the float, this was to determine the optimum span length that is suitable for the
float-pipe. (Asle Venas et al, 2015) In their report suggested a span length of 2000 meters
between the mooring points. This was used as the maximum length, the length of each span
was gradually decreased by 100 meters and the result is shown in the graph below. It was
observed that the natural frequency of the float-pipe reduced with an increase in the span
length. This reduction in frequency means that resonance will occur in long span at a very
low frequency and at a very high mode number. Figure 23 below shows the graph that
depicts the relationship between increase in length, natural frequency and mode number.
40
Figure 29: Effect of span length of Natural Frequency
6.4
Effect of Span Length on Transverse A/D
The transverse A/D graph against arc length was also monitored alongside the predicted
mode of vibration, five different lengths were considered and the graphs plotted are shown in
the following five figures, it was observed that for length 1000m, 1500m and 2000m the
number of crest in the transverse A/D graphs were 8, 10 and 13 respectively, these values
were one unit more than the predicted mode of vibration from the manual calculation that
was done using Strouhal relationship and reduced velocity. Table 15 below shows the
summary of the number of crest, modes predicted and the length of span.
Figure 30: Transverse A/D for span equal 200m
41
42
Table 15: Number of crest in A/D graph versus span length
6.5
Span length
Predicted mode
No. of Crests
200m
500m
Mode 2
1000m
Mode 7
1500m
Mode 9
10
2000m
Mode 12
13
Effect of Span Length on Fatigue Damage
A sensitivity study was also carried out on the fatigue life, this is to determine which length
of pipe will have less fatigue damage in the course of operation of the float-pipe. Five length
were also considered and the result of the fatigue life for different spans length are given in
table 16 below. It was observed that as seen in the table that the total damage increased from
2.61 for 200m span to 4.88 for 500m span and the damage reduced afterwards up till length
of 2000m with a total damage of 0.7511 and a fatigue life of 131.98 years. It was also
observed that the highest damage occur at the two fixed end connection of the float-pipe.
Hence, further analysis should be carried out in order to determine the effect on the type of
end connection on the fatigue damage.
43
Table 16: Effect of Span Length on Fatigue Life

200m
500m
1000m
1500m
2000m
Total 2.61079
4.88251
3.20139
2.61039
0.75711
Time 99.9468
99.9316
99.9316
99.9316
99.93155
Life (years)
38.2821
20.4672
31.215
38.2821
131.9894
Arc Length (m)
0.0
2000.0
0.0
0.0
8000
Theta (deg)
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
SN-curve
S-N
S-N
S-N
S-N
S-N Curve
Curve
Curve
Curve
Curve
Radial Position
Outer
Outer
Outer
Outer
Outer
SCF
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
Damage
over
Exposure
Total
Exposure
(years)
Figure 35: Effect of span length on total damage
6.6
Effect of Discrete Buoyancy on the Response Analysis and Fatigue Damage
The last sensitivity study that was carried out on the float-pipe is the effect of discrete
buoyancy modules as compared to a bare pipe with an equivalent parameter. This is because
although the equivalent parameters are used in the analysis and consequently the design of a
44
kind of pipe like this, the real life situation is different, hence the need to do a simulation
for a discrete buoyancy and compare some critical results.
Figure 36: 3-D Model of the float-pipe in Orcaflex showing discrete buoyancy
It was observed that the float-pipe with discrete buoyancy modules vibrates at a lower
frequency that the other float-pipe with uniform external diameter which has equivalent
properties in Orcaflex. When the response amplitude of vibration were compared, the
amplitude of vibration of the pipeline with discrete buoyancy was more than that of the bare
pipe and the excitation frequency will become lower.
With the decrease in the excitation frequency, it means that the lower modes of vibration will
become excited, and the float-pipe will have lower curvature. This also account for the
decrease in fatigue damage that was recorded in the fatigue analysis as shown in table 17
below. There was a decrease in the fatigue damage of the float-pipe with discrete buoyancy
modules when compared with the bare pipe, and this was primarily because of the decrease
in vortex shedding frequency of the float-pipe with the discrete buoyancy modules.
In summary, for the effect of discrete buoyancy module on the float-pipe, the use of discrete
buoyancy can further reduce the overall fatigue damage, but this will be done at the expense
of a large amplitude displacement.
45
Table 17: Effect of discrete buoyancy on fatigue damage

Bare pipe
Pipe with buoy
Damage over Total Exposure
0.75712
0.63712
Total Exposure Time (years)
99.9316
99.9316
Life (years)
131.98
134.235
Arc Length (m)
8000.0
8000.0
Theta (deg)
0.0
0.0
SN-curve
S-N Curve1
S-N Curve1
Radial Position
Outer
Outer
SCF
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
46
7.
7.1
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusion
This project considered the concept of the float-pipe, which is an innovation to deal with the
challenges imposed by rugged seabed conditions. Based on analysis carried out in this
project, observations and discussions, the following conclusions cam be made.
1. The modes of vibration excited increases with an increase in the speed of the
incident current with the excited mode going beyond 50 when the incident current
increased beyond 0.2m/s
2. The modes of vibration also increases with increase in span length when the current
is steady with the 12th mode being predicted for the maximum span of 2000m
3. Several modes could have contributed to the excited mode, due to the pattern
observed on the transverse A/D graph
4. The natural frequency also increases with an increase in the length of the spa, this is
responsible for the higher modes being excited in the float-pipes with longer spans
5. It can also be concluded that the fatigue life decreases with increase in span, but this
should further be investigated to determine the optimum length at which the fatigue
life starts increasing
6. The fatigue damage on the pipeline decreases with an addition of buoyancy discrete
buoyancy modules module
7. It can also be concluded based on the fatigue results that the 2000m span is optimum
for the float-pipe
8. The fatigue damage on the 200m span is very high, hence can be concluded not to be
feasible
7.2
Recommendations for Future Research Works
Having noted in the scope of work that the float-pipe is a new innovation, and the scope of
work for this project is limited due to time constrains, a lot still need to be done in order to
ascertain the feasibility of the float-pipe. The following recommendations are hereby made
for future work, but are not limited to;
1. Interaction between the vertical tethers and the horizontal float-pipes
2. The type of the seabed anchor (suction pile or clump weight) and the type of
materials to be used.
3. The Installation of the float-pipe and pressure testing after installation
4. Transition from the float-pipe to a subsea structure or a pipeline on the seabed
47
5. Cost and potential savings analysis

6. Effect of marine growth on the float-pipe
48
References
Abbas Yageneh, A. G. R. V., 2007. Analysis of Offshore Pipeline Allowable Free

span Length. International Journal of Civil Engineering.
Allen, D., 1998. Vortex Induced Vibrations of Deepwater Risers. Offshore
Technology Conference.
Asle Venas, M. C. N. M. B. C. w. H. B. H. S. S., 2015. DNV GL FLOATPILE: A
Pipeline Concept for Challenging Seabed and Deepwater Condition. Ravenna, Italy,
s.n.
Bearman, P. W., 1984. Vortex Shedding from Oscillating Bluff Bodies. Annual
Review of Fluid Mechanics, Issue 16, pp. 195-222.
Cunff, C. F. ,. E. F., 2001. Vortex-Induced Vibrations of risers: theoretical,
numerical and experimental investigation,, s.l.: Oil&Gas Science and Technology
Rev. IFP, Vol 57.
Feng, C. C., 1968. The measurement of vortex-induced effects on the flow past
stationary and oscillationd circular and D-section, s.l.: MSc Thesis, University of
British Columbia.
Francisco, J. H. H., 2006. Multi-mode Vortex-Induced Vibrations of a Flexible
Circular Cylinder, s.l.: Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London.
Gharib, M. R., 1999. Vortex-Induced Vibration, Absence of Lock-in and Fluid Force,
s.l.: Phd thesis, California Institute of Technology.
Green., S. I., 1995. Fluid Vortices: Fluid Mechanics and its applications.. s.l.:Kluwer
Academic.
Gunner Paulsen, T. H. S. F. G. N., 2000. Submerged Floating Pipeline in
Deepwaters. Seatle, USA, s.n.
Jauvtis, N. W. C., 2003. Vortex-Induced Vibration of a Cylinder with Two Degrees
of Freedom. Journal of Fluid and Structures, Issue 17, pp. 1035-1042.
Jeon, D. a. G. M., 2001. On Circular Cylinders Undergoing two-degree-of-fredom
Forced Motion. Journal of Fluid and Structures, Issue 15, pp. 533-541.
49
Koushan, K., 2009. Vortex Induced Vibrations of Free Spanning Pipelines,

Norway: s.n.
Larsen, C. M., 2011. VIV - A short and incomplete introduction to fundamental
concepts,, s.l.: s.n.
Lienhard., J. H., 1966. Synopsis of Lift, Drag, and Vortex Frequency Data for Rigid
Circular, s.l.: Technical Extension Service, Washington State University,.
Masson C, F. J. J. D., 2006. Dynamic analysis of pipe-in-pipe Steel Catenary Riser
with
Direct
Modelling
of
structure
Intaraction.
Offshore
Technology
Conference(OTC).
Mutlu, S. B. J. F., 2006. Hydrodynamics around a Cylindrical Structure, s.l.:
Technical University of Denmark, Denmark.
Narakorn, S., 2014. Risers and Mooring Lines Lecture note, Glasgow: Unpublished
Lecture Note.
Orcina, 2014. OrcaFlex Manual Version 9.8a. s.l.:Orcina Ltd..
Palmer A. C., K. R. A., 2004. Subsea Pipeline Engineering. s.l.:Pennwel.
Qiang Bai, Y. B., 2005. Subsea Pipeline and Risers. s.l.:Elsevier.
Sarpkaya, T., 1979. Vortex-Induced Oscillations. A Selective Review. Journal of
Applied Mechanics, Volume 46, pp. 241-258.
Sarpkaya, T., 2004. A Critical Review of the Intrisic Nature of Vortex-Induce
Vbration. Journal of Fluid and Structures, Volume 19, pp. 389-447.
Subramanian, S., 2013. Analysis and Optimization of Rigid Pipeline Installation with
Inline Structures , s.l.: University of Stavanger.
Williamson, C. G. R., 2004. Vortex-Induced Vibrations. Annuan Review of Fluid
Mechanics, Volume 36, pp. 413-445.
Zhao, Z., 2011. Calculation of fatigue damage for tensioned risers from vortex
induced vibrations, s.l.: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Msc
Thesis).
50
Zoetermeer, K. N., 2003. Turkey-Cyprus Submerged Floating Freshwater Pipeline,

s.l.: Delft University of Technology..
51
Appendix A
Design of Floatpipe
Density of water
Specific Gravity of Oil
kg
water 1025
3
m
SGoil 0.6
Density of Oil
tonne
oil SGoil water = 0.615
3
m
Density of steel
kg
tonne
steel 7850
= 7.85
3
3
m
m
9
Youngs modulus of
steel
Share Modulus of
steel
Poisson ratio
E 210 10 Pa = 210000000 kPa

G 79 GPa
Single span length
l 500 m
Total length of pipeline
Lp 4 l = 2000 m
Current Velocity
m
U 1.2
s
Kinematic viscosity
V 1.519 10
v 0.29
Properties of the basepipe

Outer diameter of basepipe
ODp 10.75 in = 0.2731 m
Inner diameter of basepipe
IDp 8.75 in = 0.2223 m
2
2
2
Ap ODp IDp = 0.0198 m
4

4
4
4
Moment of Inertia of basepipe
Ip
ODp IDp = 0.0002 m
64
tonne
Mass per Unit Length of basepipe Mp steel Ap = 0.1551
m
Cross-section Area of basepipe

tonne
2
Mass of Internal Fluid (Crudeoil) Mif SGoil water IDp = 0.0239
4
m
Effective weight of basepipe
2
We Mp g + Mif g ODp water g
kN
We = 1.0058
m
Bending Stiffness of
basepipe
Axial Stiffness of base
pipe
Torsional Stiffness of
basepipe
E Ip = 32149.376 kN m
E Ap = 4149934.2538 kN
E
G
2 (1 + v)
J 2 Ip
Torsional Stiffness of
basepipe
G J = 24921.9969 kN m
Equivalent external diameter of the buoyancy module

Density of buoy (Floater)
Cross sectional area of buoy
The total mass per unit

length of the bundle
kg
tonne
buoy 416
= 0.416
3
3
m
m
2
2
Abuoy ODbuoy ODp
4
2
2
Abuoy ODbuoy ODbuoy ODp
4
Wbundle Abuoy Abuoy buoy + Mp + Mif
Weight of Pipe with float
2
2
Wpipefloat ODbuoy ODp buoy + Mp + Mif
4
Weight of dasplaced water
2
Wdisplacedwater ODbuoy water
4
For a Neutral Buoyancy
Wpipewithfloat Wdisplacedwater
ODbuoy 0.1 m
2
2
2
ODbuoy ODp buoy + Mp + Mif ODbuoy water
4
4
ODbuoy find ODbuoy = 0.5686 m
Equivalent outer
diameter of buoyancy
module
Crossectional area of
buoyancy module
ODbuoy = 0.5686 m
2
2
2
Abuoy ODbuoy ODp = 0.1953 m
4
Abuoy = 0.1953 m
Mass of buoyancy
module per unit
length
Total volume of buoy
required
Volume of buoy required
for 10m length of pipe
tonne
Wbuoy Abuoy buoy = 0.0813
m
Vbuoytotal Abuoy Lp = 390.6962 m
Vbuoytotal
3
V10m = 1.9535 m
200
Appendix B
Design of floaters for each 10m span of pipeline as required in Orcaflex
3
Volume of floater per

10m length of pipeline
V10m = 1.9535 m
Length of Floater
Lf 1 m
Distance of floaters (c/c)
Sf 10 m
Density of floater used
kg
tonne
=
0.416
f 416
3
3
m
m
ODf 1 m
2
2
ODf ODp 1 m V10m
4
ODf find ODf = 1.6006 m
Calculated properies of floaters

Length of single floater
Lf 1 m
Outer diameter of floater
ODf = 1.6006 m
Cross Sectional area of

floater
2
2
2
Af ODf ODp = 1.9535 m
4
Volume of Single floater
3
2
2
Vf ODf ODp Lf = 1.9535 m
4
Mass Single floater
Mf Vf f = 0.8126 tonne
Weight of displaced
water
Displacement water g Vf = 19.636 kN
Check for the combined properties of the equivalent Pipeline with float
IF
Equivalent Volume
Vf
2
2
ODeq ODp +
4
4
Sf
Equivalent Outer
diameter
ODeq
Vf 4
2
OD
p
Sf
4
ODeq = 0.5686 m
Equivalent Inner
diameter
Equivalent Unit mass
IDeq IDp = 0.2223 m

Mf
Meq Mp +
Sf
kg
Meq = 236.3933
m
O.K as designed
Appendix C
Output properties of the Pipeline and floaters from Orcaflex
COMBINED PROPERTIES
Weight in water: -0.00065kN/m (-66.290E-6te/m)
Diam/Wt Ratio: -874.678m/(kN/m) (-8577.663m/(te/m))
USED IN (& CONTENTS DENSITY)
Float Pipe (1.000te/m^3)
FLOAT PROPERTIES
[per Float]
Volume: 1.954m^3
Mass: 0.818te
Displacement: 19.637kN (2.002te)
Weight in water: -11.618kN (-1.185te)
BASE LINE TYPE PROPERTIES
Weight in water: 1.161kN/m (0.118te/m)
Diam/Wt Ratio: 0.235m/(kN/m) (2.306m/(te/m))
Outer Diameter: 0.273m
Appendix D
Design of the Buoyancy Tank
Unit mass of mooring
lines used
kN
Wm 0.466
m
Assume length of
mooring line
Lm 200 m
Total weight of mooring

line
Wme Wm Lm = 93.2 kN
Breq 5 Wme = 466 kN
Height of buoyancy
tank
Htank 8.5 m
ODtank 1 m
2

2
2
ODtank Htank water g ODtank ODtank 0.020 m g steel Htank Breq
4
ODtank find ODtank = 2.4583 m
Internal diameter of
buoyancy tank
Mass of buoyancy tank
IDtank ODtank 0.020 m = 2.4383 m
2
Breq ODtank Htank g water
4
Mtank
g
Mtank = 6.1668 tonne
Volume of buoyancy tank
2
Vtank ODtank Htank
4
Vtank = 40.3434 m
ODtank
1
2
Ix Mtank
= 2.3292 tonne m
2
4
Mass moment of Inertia

of Tank
ODtank
1
2
Iy Mtank
= 2.3292 tonne m
2
4
2
ODtank
1
2
Iz Mtank
= 4.6584 tonne m
2
2
2
ODtank
m
FD 1.2 water
1.2 Htank
2
s
Drag force on the tank
FD = 18.505 kN
Determination of the Unstretched length of the tether
Tension in the Tether
TT Breq = 466 kN
Length of the Tether
LT 100 m
Stiffness of tether
K 1000 kN
L0 1 m
K LT L0
TT
L0
L0 find L0 = 68.2128 m
Unstretched length of tether
L0 = 68.2128 m
Appendix E
Calculations Relating to VIV
Renolds number
U ODeq
Re
V
Re = 4.4917 10
Strouhal number
St 0.2
m
U 0.1
s
Vortex shedding frequency
St U
fs (U)
ODeq
fs (U) = 0.0352 Hz
Appendix F
Transverse and In-Line displacement of selected nodes
Displacement Z (m) at node

301
Transverse displacement of node 301

-840.6
-840.65
-840.7
-840.75
Lift
-840.8
-840.85
0
500
1000
1500
Simulation time (s)
2000
2500
Displacement Y (m) at node

301
In-Line displacement of node 301

0
-0.5
-1
-1.5
Drag
-2
-2.5
0
500
1000
1500
Simulation time (s)
2000
2500
Displacement Z (m) at node

401

-872.8
-872.85
-872.9
-872.95
-873
-873.05
-873.1
Lift
500
1000
1500
Simulation time (s)
2000
2500
Displacement Y (m) at node

401

0
-0.5
-1
Drag
-1.5
-2
0
500
1000
1500
Simulation time (s)
2000
2500
Displacement Z (m) at node 201

-874.95
-875
-875.05
-875.1
Lift
-875.15
-875.2
-875.25
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Displacement Y (m) at node 301

0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
Drag
-1
-1.2
-1.4
-1.6
0
500
1000
1500
Simulation time (s)
2000
2500
Comparison of drag diaplacement of 3 nodes
Displacement (m)
0
-0.5
-1
Node 201
-1.5
Node 301
-2
Node 401
-2.5
0
500
1000
1500
Simulation time (s)
2000
2500
APPENDIX G
Mode Shapes
Mode3xaxis
Modeshape(m)
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
Mode3
0.05
0.1
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
ArcLength(m)
Modeshapeyaxis
Modeshape(m)
0.003
0.002
0.001
0
Mode3
0.001
0.002
0.003
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
ArcLength(m)
ModeSshape(m)
Modeshapezaxis
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
Mode3
2000
4000
ArcLength(m)
6000
8000
Mode5xaxis
Modeshape(m)
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
Mode5
0.05
0.1
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
ArcLength(m)
Modeshapeyaxis
Modeshape(m)
0.02
0.01
0
0.01
Mode5
0.02
0.03
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
ArcLength(m)
ModeSshape(m)
Modeshapezaxis
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
Mode5
2000
4000
ArcLength(m)
6000
8000
Mode7xaxis
Modeshape(m)
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
Mode7
0.05
0.1
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
ArcLength(m)
Modeshapeyaxis
Modeshape(m)
0.015
0.01
0.005
0
Mode7
0.005
0.01
0.015
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
ArcLength(m)
ModeSshape(m)
Modeshapezaxis
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
Mode7
2000
4000
ArcLength(m)
6000
8000
Mode8xaxis
Modeshape(m)
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
Mode8
0.05
0.1
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
ArcLength(m)
Modeshapeyaxis
Modeshape(m)
0
0.002
0.004
0.006
Mode8
0.008
0.01
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
ArcLength(m)
ModeSshape(m)
Modeshapezaxis
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
Mode8
2000
4000
ArcLength(m)
6000
8000
Mode11xaxis
Modeshape(m)
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
Mode11
0.05
0.1
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
ArcLength(m)
Modeshapeyaxis
Modeshape(m)
0.003
0.002
0.001
0
0.001
Mode11
0.002
0.003
0.004
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
ArcLength(m)
ModeSshape(m)
Modeshapezaxis
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
Mode11
2000
4000
ArcLength(m)
6000
8000
Mode12xaxis
Modeshape(m)
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
Mode12
0.05
0.1
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
ArcLength(m)
Modeshapeyaxis
Modeshape(m)
0.003
0.002
0.001
0
Mode12
0.001
0.002
0.003
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
ArcLength(m)
ModeSshape(m)
Modeshapezaxis
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
Mode12
2000
4000
ArcLength(m)
6000
8000

Abiodun Aremu OLIYIDE (Float-Pipe)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Abiodun Aremu OLIYIDE (Float-Pipe)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Department of Naval Architecture,

Ocean and Marine Engineering

Dynamics and VIV Analysis of a Novel Float-pipe in

Author: Abiodun Aremu OLIYIDE

Supervisor: Dr Narakorn Srinil

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the requirement of the

Signed: Abiodun Aremu OLIYIDE

KWWSVVXEPLWDFXNQHZUHSRUWBSULQWYLHZDVS"HT  HE  HVP  RLG  VLG  Q  P  VYU  U  ODQJ HQBXV

KWWSVVXEPLWDFXNQHZUHSRUWBSULQWYLHZDVS"HT  HE  HVP  RLG  VLG  Q  P  VYU  U  ODQJ HQBXV

Abiodun Aremu OLIYIDE,

Copyright Declaration ................................................................................................... i

General Concept of the Float-pipe ......................................................... 2

1.2 Aim and Scope of the Project ........................................................................ 3

LITRATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... 5

Offshore Pipelines ......................................................................................... 6

Types of Pipelines and Concepts ........................................................... 6

Vortex-induced Vibrations ............................................................................ 7

Transverse Motion ............................................................................... 11

Drag and Lift Forces ............................................................................ 11

Lock-in Phenomenon ........................................................................... 12

Reduced Velocity ................................................................................. 13

Vortex-induced Vibration of Rigid Cylinders ............................................. 13

Vortex-induced Vibration of Flexible Circular Cylinders........................... 14

MODELLING APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY .................................... 16

3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 16

Composition of the Model ........................................................................... 16

Building the Model ...................................................................................... 18

Challenges Encountered in Building the Model in Orcaflex....................... 20

FLOAT-PIPE ANALYSIS ................................................................................ 21

Types of Analysis carried out on the Float-pipe ......................................... 22

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ........................................................................ 23

Dynamic Analysis and Results .................................................................... 27

Summary Results for Float Pipe .......................................................... 27

Summary Result for Buoyancy Tank .................................................. 31

Vortex-induced Vibration Result ................................................................ 33

Fatigue Analysis and Result ....................................................................... 36

SENSITIVITY STUDY ..................................................................................... 38

Effect of Current Speed on the Modes Excited ........................................... 38

Effect of Span Length on the Modes Excited.............................................. 39

Effect of Span Length on the Natural Frequency ........................................ 40

Effect of Span Length on Transverse A/D .................................................. 41

Effect of Span Length on Fatigue Damage ................................................. 43

Effect of Discrete Buoyancy on the Response and Fatigue Damage .......... 44

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................... 47

Recommendations for Future Research Works ........................................... 47

General Concept of the Float-pipe

A cable effect and multi-modal excitation

Interaction between the vertical tethers and the horizontal float-pipes

The Installation of the float-pipe and pressure testing after installation

Transition from the float-pipe to a subsea structure or a pipeline on the seabed

Cost and potential savings analysis

Effect of marine growth on the float-pipe

Aim and Scope of the Project

Create a 3-dimensional model of the float-pipe in Orcaflex

Carry out Static and Modal analyses of the Float-pipe

Determine the natural frequencies of the float-pipe in order to determine the

Study the effect of current speed on the VIV response

Less energy requirement for transportation

Low maintenance cost during operation

Little or low impact on land use pattern

Little or no loss of product in transit

Types of Pipelines and Concepts

Figure 3: Vortex shedding in a uniform current (Larsen, 2011)

KWWSVVXEPLWDFXNQHZUHSRUWBSULQWYLHZDVS"HT HE HVP RLG VLG Q P VYU U ODQJ HQBXV

KWWSVVXEPLWDFXNQHZUHSRUWBSULQWYLHZDVS"HT HE HVP RLG VLG Q P VYU U ODQJ HQBXV