Exploring the Design Space Governing the Lateral Buckle Capacity of Subsea Pipelines

Abstract

Three analytical methods are used to evaluate the lateral buckle capacity of perfectly straight pipelines supported by a seafloor foundation: the beam-on-elastic-foundation method, the Kerr thermal buckling method, and the Rayleigh-Ritz method. These analytical methods and a numerical finite element method including the pipeline out-of-straightness characteristics are used to investigate the design space for pipeline buckling through deterministic and Monte Carlo investigations of a typical condition. A regression model is fitted to finite element results and then used to predict responses for other general conditions. Characteristics of observed pipeline out-of-straightness are described and their influence on its buckle capacity is examined. Bounds to the expected pipeline buckle capacity may be established using the four analysis methods.