BUCKLE PROPAGATION AND ARRESTING IN OFFSHORE PIPELINES

A summary is presented of recent developments that contribute to relia bly predicting the magnitude of the buckle propagation pressure for de ep-water offshore pipelines. The associated problem of buckle arrestin g is then addressed, and a study is made of the relationship between t he external pressure and the buckle length for conditions representati ve of those involved in the arresting of a propagating buckle. Using e nergy methods, an analytical expression that defines that relationship is obtained, and it is shown that its predictions are in very good ag reement with those of accurate finite element solutions. The relations hip between the pressure and the buckle length reported herein could b e useful in improving the understanding of the forces exerted by a buc kle on an arrestor during a buckle arresting process. Furthermore, an examination is made of the magnitude of the dynamic effects induced on an arrestor by a propagating buckle, and it is demonstrated that such effects are usually small.