Dynamic Response Analysis of a Subsea Rigid M-Shaped Jumper under Combined Internal and External Flows

Abstract

To analyze the dynamic response of a rigid M-shaped jumper subjected to combined internal and external flows, a one-way coupled fluid–structure interaction process is applied. First, CFD simulations are conducted separately for the internal and external fluid domains. The pressure histories on the inner and outer walls are exported and loaded into the finite element model using inverse distance interpolation. Then, FEA is performed to determine the dynamic response, followed by a fatigue assessment based on the obtained stress data. The displacement, acceleration, and stress distribution along the M-shaped jumper are obtained. External flow velocity dominates the displacements, while internal flow velocity dominates the vibrations and stresses. The structural response to the combined effect of internal and external flows, plus the response to gravity alone, equals the sum of the structural responses to internal flow alone and external flow alone. Fatigue damage is calculated for the bend exhibiting the most intense vibration and higher stress levels, and the locations with significant damage correspond to areas with high maximum von Mises stress. This paper aims to evaluate multiple flow fields acting simultaneously on subsea pipelines and to identify the main factors that provide valuable information for their design, monitoring, and maintenance.