Integrated method of determining the size of clear opening area for through-thickness damages in underwater pipeline with encasement

Abstract

The article describes the problem solution option to determine the size of the clear opening area for through-thickness damage in the underwater pipeline with encasement. The integrated method is proposed to determine damages like ruptures, bursts, kinks/breaks, etc., formed in the pipeline wall or in pipeline encasement joints. According to the proposed method, the main indicators that enable calculating the size of such damage – the distance to the point of damage occurrence and the pressure at the point of damage occurrence are determined separately – using fundamentally different methods. According to the method proposed, the distance to the point of through-thickness damage is determined by piezoelectric cells placed with a certain spacing in the pipeline – encasement annulus, and the pressure in the point of damage is estimated using classical design methods. The formula is obtained to calculate the size of the clear opening area for through-thickness damage according to the proposed integrated method.