초록
Subsea pipelines are exposed to several potential risks of damage due to wave, soil instability and other hazards. Structural failure of the steel pipelines will result in serious consequences such as release of transported hydrocarbons, pollution to the ocean environment and heavy costs due to repair. This paper examines the safety of subsea pipelines with free span which is one of high potential damages. The variation of an allowable length of static free span is examined for different boundary conditions and is given in a curve which is useful for the dsign of the subsea pipeline with a free span.