Configuration of Submarine Pipelines During Laying Operations

The stresses set up in a pipe being laid from a lay-barge over a stinger are determined by the configuration the pipe takes up. The equations governing this configuration are derived, and different techniques for solving them are examined. It is concluded that the finite-difference technique is the most attractive, and an example of its application is discussed in detail. The nondimensionalized form of the governing equation suggests a way of modeling the system physically and, at the same time, satisfying appropriate similarity conditions; the construction and use of such a model are described.