An Assessment Method of Sealing Performance and Stress Intensity Factors at Crack Tip of Subsea Connector Metal Sealing Rings

Abstract

Subsea connectors are of a critical part for the sealing of subsea production systems. The working environment makes cracks initiate easily on subsea connector sealing rings. In order to ensure the safety and reliability of the sealing rings, it is necessary to study the crack’s influence on them. In this study, the main parameters that may influence stress intensity factors at crack tip are discussed. The sealing requirements of the subsea connector metal sealing rings were conducted. A finite element model was established to obtain the maximum equivalent stress and maximum equivalent plastic strain of crack-free sealing ring. Meanwhile, the influence of crack depths, crack positions, and crack angles on the sealing performance in preload and operating states was simulated through changing XFEM crack’s parameters in ABAQUS software, as well as their influence on stress intensity factors at the crack tip. The research shows that although the cracks have little effect on the sealing performance of sealing rings in the early stage, the stress intensity factors increase with the crack depths. Long-term use leads to crack propagation, structure breakage, and sealing failure. The research results are of some reference value for improving the safety and reliability of subsea connectors in practical engineering applications.