Bending study of submarine power cables based on a repeated unit cell model
P. Fang (TU Delft - Transport Engineering and Logistics)
Xiao Li (Institute of High Performance Computing)
Xiaoli Jiang (TU Delft - Transport Engineering and Logistics)
J.J. Hopman (TU Delft - Ship Design, Production and Operations)
Yong Bai (Zhejiang University)
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Abstract
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.