RCID

Offshore Flexible Pipes

Problem

Wellstream, a leading manufacturer of flexible flowlines and risers, required the design and analysis of a steel fabrication around which pipes could be bent to simulate in service sheave loads.

Design

The initial stage of the work was a feasibility study to see whether the desired sheave could be simulated using an existing test facility. This included a review of access and safety requirements.

The detailed design of the fabrication was then undertaken including the selection of materials, plate thicknesses, bolting, lifting points and weld details. The fabrication was modelled using SolidWorks.

Analysis

The design was verified using COSMOS FEA software. Sheave loadings were determined and applied to the fabrication which was constrained to simulate the support from the remainder of the test rig.

In addition to static analysis, a fatigue analysis was carried out to ensure that the desired design life was achievable.

The results were presented in a detailed report for the client and manufacturing drawings were also created.