Bending study of submarine power cables based on a repeated unit cell model

Bending study of submarine power cables based on a repeated unit cell model

Fang, P. (TU Delft Transport Engineering and Logistics)
Li, Xiao (Institute of High Performance Computing)
Jiang, X. (TU Delft Transport Engineering and Logistics)
Hopman, J.J. (TU Delft Ship Design, Production and Operations)
Bai, Yong (Zhejiang University)

2023

Predicting the bending behaviours of a submarine power cable (SPC) is always a tough task due to its complex geometry and inner layer contact, not to mention the stick–slip mechanism. A full-scale finite element model is cumbersome during the early design stage and a more efficient model for practical use is required. Therefore, in this paper, a repeated unit cell (RUC) technique-based FE model is developed, which simplifies the bending analysis of SPCs using a short-length representative cell with periodic conditions. The verification of this RUC model is conducted from cable and component levels, respectively. The cable overall response is validated by the curvature-moment relationships from our cable bending tests regarding four cable samples whose material properties are obtained through a set of material tests. As for the component level, the behaviours of particular components are studied and compared with the results from a full-scale numerical model. Discrepancy is observed between the RUC model and the test, which can be explained by the distinctions of boundary conditions between these two methods. The proposed Cable-RUC model has been found robust and computationally efficient for studying SPCs under bending.

Bending behaviour
FEM
Multi-point constraint
Repeated unite cell
Submarine power cable

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:19d0d0e1-f296-4e94-8b3b-483493df4007

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.116606

0141-0296

Engineering Structures, 293

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2023 P. Fang, Xiao Li, X. Jiang, J.J. Hopman, Yong Bai