Field Layout of Glass Reinforced Epoxy Pipeline – A Practical Approach

Abstract

This paper presents a practical approach dealing with the development of safe working envelops for field operators to avoid any potential GRE pipe failure during installation. Finite element modeling was used to model the pipeline. Two different element types available in ANSYS library (Beam and Shell elements) were used in the analysis. Various pipe sizes subjected to typical loading conditions similar to field layout conditions were considered. The finite element models were used to estimate pipe deflection, the internal normal and shear forces as well as bending moments for each pipe section along its length from which the induced stresses were determined. The maximum tensile stress was calculated and compared to the failure strength of GRE for various lifting scenarios. A sensitivity analysis on the various parameters affecting the structural integrity of the pipeline was also performed. It was found that the beam element over predicts the threshold lifting height as compared to the shell element results. In most cases, the estimated threshold value for the lifting height causing potential pipe failure for all pipe sizes is 2 and 1.2 m for beam and shell elements, respectively. Moreover, the results showed that the minimum threshold height increases for smaller pipe sizes.