High-order lateral buckling analysis of submarine pipeline under thermal stress

It is of importance to study and predict the possible buckling of submarine pipeline under thermal stress in pipeline design. Since soil resistance is not strong enough to restrain the large deformation of pipeline, high-order buckling modes occur very easily. Analytical solutions to high-order buckling modes were obtained in this paper. The relationships between buckling temperature and the amplitude or the wavelength of buckling modes were established. Analytical solutions were obtained to predict the occurrence and consequence of in-service buckling of a heated pipeline in an oil field. The effects of temperature difference and properties of subsoil on buckling modes were investigated. The results show that buckling will occur once temperature difference exceeds safe temperature; high-order pipeline buckling occurs very easily; the larger the friction coefficients are, the safer the submarine pipeline will be.