Experimental Investigation of a Large-Scale Composite Riser Tube Under External Pressure

Abstract

A collapse pressure test was conducted on a full-scale diameter prototype composite offshore drilling riser. The test specimen was a carbon fiber-epoxy filament-wound tube, approximately 56.4 cm outside diameter and 3.05 cm wall thickness. The tube was subjected to external water pressure up to collapse. The purpose of the test was to confirm the external pressure capacity of the specimen and to provide a basis for verification and calibration of analytical estimates of the collapse pressure of large scale carbon fiber tubes. The specimen was instrumented with strain gauges on both the outside and inside walls of the tube. This paper describes the test specimen and presents key results of the test.