Characterisation of slug flow conditions in pipelines for fatigue analysis
- Authors: Reda, Ahmed , Forbes, Gareth , Sultan, Ibrahim
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
- Full Text: false
- Description: Understanding the problem of slug flow induced fatigue damage is of particular importance to the reliable operation of pipelines. Slug flow across unsupported pipeline spans, pipeline crossings or vertical engineered buckle initiators, i.e. sleepers, produces dynamic motion in the pipeline resulting in cyclic fatigue stresses. In some cases, the dynamic effects will cause the pipeline to fail at a point of stress concentration. In other cases, however, these effects may be negligible. The current literature provides no guidance as to when the dynamic effects of slug flow must be considered. This paper gives guidance and describes how fatigue due to slug flow in pipelines, which would normally require dynamic analysis, can be quantified using simplified quasi-static analysis. The paper also presents a design process which could be used by pipeline engineers to determine the level of analysis needed, before embarking on more complex and expensive dynamic finite element. Copyright © 2011 by ASME.
Conceptual design of a Submersible Remotely Operated Swimming Dredger (SROSD)
- Authors: Sarkar, Mridul , Bose, Neil , Chai, Shuhong , Dowling, Kim
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
- Full Text: false
- Description: Increasing use of deep-water dredging and mining vehicles has been anticipated for resource collection, engineering construction and environmental protection. Existing deep-dredging or mining equipment can be classified as i) diver-assisted dredging tools, ii) surfacefloating dredgers with deep-dredging capability and iii) submersible dredgers. Diver assisted dredging tools have limited capacity and involve human risk. Surface floating dredgers can work to a specific dredging depth controlled by their ladder length, but modification is limited by their large size and significant cost. Submersible dredgers are deployed for sub-sea operations and are the focus of this research. Submersible crawlers and walkers work in a submerged terrain-contact condition and depend on their apparent weight and ground reactions to counteract the excavation forces. Crawlers are inefficient in negotiating difficult subsea terrain and walking submersibles are slow moving over long-distances. Considering the constraints of dredging depth, negotiation of uneven terrain, slow motion, interchange ability of excavation or transport sub-system components and station keeping during operation, a new type of submersible dredger or miner was conceived. In working mode, it imitates a walking motion by spuds that are also used for station keeping during dredging. For longdistance travel, the vehicle can swim by means of vector thrusters. The vector thrusters also help in position-keeping and motion-control during swimming. To offset higher forces generated during excavation of hard materials, spuds, variable buoyancy tanks and control planes are included as secondary station-keeping devices. The paper describes the general arrangement and the distinguished sub-systems of the conceptualised vehicle. Special attention was given to working and swimming locomotion and the methods of station keeping during operation. Investigations about the station-keeping, propulsion and controlling conditions of the vehicle are in progress. Experiments to measure the cutting forces from the cutter design are described. It is expected that the new design will significantly contribute to the evolution of existing deep-dredging equipment with improved efficiency, increased mobility and location control while minimising larger environmental disturbances. Copyright © 2011 by ASME.
Characterization of dynamic slug flow induced loads in pipelines
- Authors: Reda, Ahmed , Forbes, Gareth , Sultan, Ibrahim
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
- Full Text: false
- Description: The flow of a liquid mass, i.e. a 'slug', inside thin-walled spanning pipelines, produces a lateral traversing force. This moving force initiates dynamic stresses within the structure and is often critical when assessing structural fatigue. Moving slugs in spanning pipelines may be modeled as either a moving concentrated force or a moving mass when investigating the vibration response of the pipeline under the passage of a slug flow. The moving concentrated force model only yields accurate results when the mass of the slug is small in relation to that of the pipeline; although, the moving mass model should be used instead when the slug's mass cannot be regarded as small in relation to the mass of the pipeline. The modeling of a moving concentrated force is much more readily implemented than that of a moving mass. Thus, the aim of this paper is to identify those situations where the simplification of considering a moving concentrated force can be made, or indeed if dynamic analysis is even required. Results are given in this paper to quantify when the two modeling techniques begin to differ significantly. It is intended that this paper will assist pipeline engineers discriminate between which appropriate conditions to use for either of the two different models of a traversing concentrated force/mass over a structure. Copyright © 2012 by ASME.
- Description: C1