Wave forces on large offshore pipelines

Wave pressures and uplift forces on and scour around submarine pipeline in clayey soil

Abstract: Experimental investigations are carried out on wave-induced pressures and uplift forces on a submarine pipeline (exposed, half buried and fully buried) in clayey soil of different consistency index both in regular and random waves. A study on scour under the pipeline resting on the clay bed is also carried out. It is found that the uplift force can be reduced by about 70%, if the pipeline is just buried in clay soil. The equilibrium scour depth below the pipeline is estimated as 42% of the pipe diameter for consistency index of 0.17 and is 34% of the pipe diameter for consistency index of 0.23. The results of the present investigations are compared with the results on sandy soil by Cheng and Liu (Appl. Ocean Res., 8(1986) 22) to acknowledge the benefit of cohesive soil in reducing the high pore pressure on buried pipeline compared to cohesionless soil.

Bedform evolution around a submarine pipeline and its effects on wave-induced forces under regular waves

Abstract: The paper presents an experimental investigation of seabed evolution behavior around a submarine pipeline and the hydrodynamic forces on the pipeline under regular waves. Unlike the previous flume tests that have largely used beds with median sands, this study focuses on fine sediments such as sandy silt and silt. The primary objective of the study was to investigate: (i) the scour process under different wave conditions and with different sediments and (ii) the influence of the bedform evolution on the hydrodynamic forces experienced by the pipeline. In terms of scour and ripple formation, four distinct regimes of the near-field bed evolution behavior are identified which are: (I) no scour, (II) scour without ripples, (III) scour with small ripples and (IV) scour with large ripples. The influence of bedform evolution on wave forces was found to vary significantly in different regimes. In regime I, the wave forces were quite stable; in regime II and III, the wave forces underwent a gradual reduction before reaching their equilibrium values at fairly early stages of the scour process; in regime IV, the wave forces were significantly affected by the migrating ripples and can be rather unsteady throughout the testing period.

Wave interaction with a submarine pipeline in clayey soil due to random waves

Abstract: The wave pressure and uplift force due to random waves on a submarine pipeline (resting on bed, partially buried and fully buried) in clayey soil are measured. The influence of various parameters viz., wave period, wave height, water depth, burial depth and consistency index of the soil on wave pressures around and uplift force on the submarine pipeline was investigated. The wave pressures were measured at three locations around the submarine pipeline (each at 120° to the adjacent one). It is found that the wave pressure and uplift force spectrum at high consistency index of the soil is smaller compared to that of low consistency index. Just burying the pipeline (e/D=1.0) in clayey soil reduces the uplift force to less than 60% of the force experienced by a pipeline resting on the seabed (e/D=0.0) for Ic=0.33.

Wave force on protected submarine pipelines over porous and impermeable beds using SPH numerical model

Abstract: A numerical model based on WCSPH method is utilized to simulate wave propagation over a pipeline. A hybrid approach is introduced to absorb outgoing waves based on gradual decrease of fluid velocity in an absorbing layer and using sloping beds simultaneously. The interaction of both regular and irregular waves with pipelines located on porous and impermeable sea-beds has been studied. The effect of pipeline distance to sea-bed on flow pattern and on the applied force is investigated for different geometries of pipeline protection by porous media and side slopes. Irregular wave spectra are studied and the model has been verified in comparison with other numerical and experimental data. The developed model simulates accurately the interaction of waves and a pipeline placed on a porous or an impermeable sea-bed, showing that forces on pipelines on permeable sea-beds are completely different than on impermeable sea-beds.

A finite volume solution of wave forces on submarine pipelines

Abstract: In this paper, a numerical model is established for simulating the wave forces on a submarine pipeline. A set of two-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations is discretized numerically with a finite volume method in a moving mesh system. After each time step, the mesh is modified according to the changed wave surface boundary. The deffered correction second-order upwind scheme (SUDC) is adopted here to discretize the convective fluxes. The effects of the clearance between the pipeline and the seabed, water depth and wave height on wave forces are studied, respectively. The results by the numerical simulation agree well with the experimental data and theory value.

Potential Flow Past a Group of Circular Cylinders

Abstract: The problem of an accelerating potential flow past a group of stationary circular cylinders is considered using the method of images. The problem is formulated so that the number and location of the cylinders is arbitrary so long as there is no overlap between adjacent cylinders. Inertial and lift coefficients are determined for several different cylinder arrangements. The inertial coefficient for a cylinder can vary in either direction from its single-cylinder value of 2.0. The controlling factors on this variation are the relative geometric position of the cylinder within the group and its distance from its neighbors. These same factors determine, as is expected, the lift coefficient values. In two example configurations, there is even a drag-type force generated on an individual cylinder in the potential flow.

Wave Forces on Cylinders near Plane Boundaries

Abstract: Wave forces on a horizontal circular cylinder were experimentally measured to determine the influence of a plane boundary (e/D), water particle displacement (A/D), and water depth (h/D) on these forces. The transition from potential flow conditions to real flow conditions is considered. The variation of force coefficients of inertia, lift, and drag with respect to e/D, A/D, and h/D is identified.