Hyperbaric chamber test of subsea pipelines

• Experimental protocol for propagation response of subsea pipelines is described.
• Experimental results are compared with analytical and empirical solutions.
• The imperfection sensitivity of propagation buckling is investigated.
• Length of transition zone obtained from the experiment is investigated.
• Longitudinal and hoop strain evolution during propagation is presented to show the extent of plastic deformations.

An experimental study of buckle propagation in subsea pipelines is presented in this paper. The experimental protocol consists of two types of experiments; hyperbaric chamber and ring squash tests. Intact and dented steel and aluminium pipes with different diameter-to-thickness ratio are used in these tests. The experimental results are presented and compared with available analytical and empirical solutions. The sensitivity of buckle initiation to initial geometric imperfection is evaluated. The evolution of hoop and longitudinal strain during buckle propagation is presented to show the extent of plastic deformations.