Buckling analysis of subsea pipeline with idealized corrosion defects using homotopy analysis method

Abstract

Comprehension on the bucking failure of corroded subsea pipelines is important. Those corrosion defects usually exhibit complex geometries and will complicate the buckling failure behavior of subsea pipeline under external pressure. In this paper, a semi-analytical approach named homotopy analysis method (HAM) is introduced to investigate the buckling failure of subsea pipeline with three idealized corrosion defects. The proposed solutions are proven to be capable of giving accurate and efficient predictions in comparison with finite element result as well as analytical results. Numerical examples indicate that corrosion shapes have pronounced effect on the buckling pressure as well as buckling mode of pipeline with severe corrosion defects and those cases should be carefully concerned in the structural integrity assessment of subsea pipelines.