A Finite Element Model for Prediction of the Bending Stress of Umbilicals

Abstract

Umbilical is an important equipment in the subsea production to supply a connection between the floater and the subsea well. Analyzing strength and fatigue behaviors under bending is a key requirement to assure safety. An analytical model is proposed for predicting the bending behavior of a steel tube wounded helically around a frictionless cylinder. A full three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model of an umbilical is developed by considering the frictions and contacts among its components. The numerical results of the bending stress of a steel tube were validated against that of the analytical model. The impacts of friction coefficients on the bending stress, contact pressure, and friction stress have been further investigated by the established FE model.