STATIC ANALYSIS OF DEEPWATER STEEL CATENARY RISER USING NONLINEAR FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

The steel catenary riser (SCR) has been simulated with an extensible flexibility cable model based on the assumption of a large deformation in bending and small extension. The program considering large curve at Touch Down Point (TDP) of SCR CABLE3D is improved secondly. Taking the factors of Spar motion and soil interaction into account, this paper focuses on the variation tendency of a few characteristic values affected by the SCR from Spar static offset, including static configuration, top tension, bending moment of TDP and effective tension. The computational results indicate that peaks of top-tension and bending moment at TDP are caused by offset of Spar. The effect of large curve at TDP on axial force should not be ignored. The study can provide reference value for design analysis of SCR.