Numerical Simulations and Experimental Study on the Reeling Process of Submarine Pipeline by R-Lay Method

During the reeling process of the reel-lay method, the pipe will be subjected to combined loading of tension and bending. Excessive ovalization of the pipe will affect the structural performance and even lead to structural instability of the pipe. In this paper, a numerical simulation model of the pipe-reeling process is established by finite element tools. The Ramberg–Osgood material model is used to study the ovalization and bending moment of the pipe cross-section during the pipe-reeling process based on the Von Mises plasticity and nonlinear kinematic hardening rules. The results show that the ovalization and bending moment of the pipe section will change significantly during the pipe-reeling process. Subsequently, one set of 6-inch pipe-reeling experimental setups was designed to conduct a full-scale experiment. Compared with the experimental results, the feasibility of the finite element model is verified. Finally, the effects of diameter-to-thickness ratio, the material parameters of the pipe, and the pipe axial tension on the ovalization and bending moment changes are studied. Research shows that each parameter has a certain influence on the pipe of the reeling process, and the diameter-to-thickness ratio of the pipe has the most obvious effect. When the diameter-to-thickness ratio decreases, the bearing capacity for bending moments and the ability to resist ovalization of pipe are enhanced. At the same time, each parameter has a significant impact on the reeling process of the pipeline.