Frequency-domain axisymmetric and thermomechanical viscoelastic analysis of thermoplastic composite pipe

Abstract

ABSTRACT Thermoplastic composite pipe (TCP), composed of polymers and composite laminates, shows significant potential for deep-water offshore oil field development due to its lightweight and high strength. However, current mechanical studies primarily focus on the elastic domain, ignoring the critical viscoelasticity of non-metallic materials. To solve this, we introduce a comprehensive theoretical model that incorporates viscoelastic properties under both axisymmetric and thermal loads, considering radial convective thermal gradients and axial heat conduction. This model accurately predicts TCP's mechanical behavior by using stiffness coefficients, differential geometry, and radial-axial temperature transfer curves. By applying the principle of elastic-viscoelastic correspondence, we obtain viscoelastic solutions in the frequency domain, showing strong agreement with Finite Element (FE) models particularly under cyclic loading. Viscoelasticity introduces larger equivalent axial stiffness and viscoelastic damping within complex structures, which become more obvious with temperature fluctuations.