An Experimental and Numerical Study on the Axial Compression Response of Flexible Pipes

This paper deals with a nonlinear three-dimensional finite element (FE) model capable of predicting the mechanical response of flexible pipes subjected to axisymmetric loads focusing on their axial compression response. Moreover, in order to validate this model, experimental tests are also described. In these tests, a typical 4 in. flexible pipe was subjected to axial compression until its failure is reached. Radial and axial displacements were measured and compared to the model predictions. The good agreement between all results points out that the proposed FE model is effective to estimate the response of flexible pipes to axial compression and; furthermore, has potential to be employed in the identification of the failure modes related to excessive axial compression as well as in the mechanical analysis of flexible pipes under other types of loads.