Free Spanning of Offshore Pipelines by DNV

This paper introduces a procedure for free span and fatigue analysis of offshore pipelines per DNV-RP-F105, 2002. The new method includes the axial force and deflection load in pipelines. The screening criteria were established to calculate the allowable span lengths in the new design codes. The screening criteria allows a certain amount of vortex-induced vibration due to wave and current loading. However, the induced pipe stresses are very small and usually below the limit stresess of typical S-N curves. In contrast, the conventional criteria did not allow any vortex-induced vibration in the free span of pipelines. Thus, the screening criteria yields reduced allowable span lengths. A simplified procedure was established to calculate the fatigue damage due to long-term current distribution. The long-term current statistics was assumed with a 3-parameter Weibull distribution. The fatigue damage was estimated for the span lengths obtained from the screening criteria for various conditions. Sample calculations show the effect of axial force for various boundary conditions. Comparisons with conventional criteria are included.