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 Journal of the Persian Gulf
(Marine Science)/Vol. 3/No. 8/June 2012/9/25-34

Determining Natural Frequency of Free Spanning

Offshore Pipelines by Considering the Seabed
Soil Characteristics
Yaghoobi, Mehdi1; Mazaheri, Said*1; Jabbari, Ebrahim2
1- Iranian National Institute for Oceanography, Tehran, IR Iran
2- Dept. of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology,
Tehran, IR Iran

Received: February 2012 Accepted: April 2012

© 2012 Journal of the Persian Gulf. All rights reserved.

Abstract
Free spans or suspended spans normally occur in subsea pipelines due to the irregularity of seabed and by
scouring phenomena around the installed non-buried pipeline. The hydrodynamic around the pipeline can
lead to a vibration of the pipeline.This kind of vibration may cause fatigue damage to the pipeline. In order
to study the hydrodynamic around the pipeline, calculating the natural frequency of the marine pipeline in
free spans accurately is very important. Resonance phenomenon may occur when the frequency of the
hydrodynamic forces induced by a vortex shedding approach the natural frequency of pipelines. A
resonating span can experience significant deflections and associated stresses. Several parameters such as
pipeline profile, axial forces, seabed soil and boundary conditions influence the natural frequency of the
pipeline. The soil characteristic is an important factor which should be considered in determining the
natural frequency of pipeline in free span. In this paper, attempts have been made to investigate the natural
frequency of free spanning pipelines and influence of soil characteristic in support of pipeline in free span.
In this regard, various boundary conditions were considered and the results were analyzed.

Keywords: Offshore pipeline, Free span, Natural frequency, Finite element method

1. Introduction the development of offshore hydrocarbon resources

(Fig. 1). These include e.g. (Bai, 2001)
Considerable amount of energy resources are
• Export (transportation) pipelines;
located below the seabed and ocean. Pipelines need
• Flow lines to transfer product from a platform to
to transfer the resources of the continental shelf
export lines;
offshore to other regions. The main reason for this is
• Water injection or chemical injection flow lines;
that pipelines consume less energy than other ways
• Flow lines to transfer product between platforms,
of transportation, e.g. tankers (Palmer and King,
subsea manifolds and satellite wells;
2004). Pipelines are used for a number of purposes in
• Pipeline bundles;
*
E-mail: [email protected]

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 Yeghoobi et al. / Determining Natural Frequency of Free Spanning Offshore Pipelines…

components of vibration, i.e. in-line motion (in the

direction of the flow) and cross flow motion (at right
angles to the flow) (Fig. 2b). The inline impulse
occurs in the same direction with every vortex. The
cross-flow impulse alternates direction. Inline
excitation is thus at a frequency twice that of cross
flow excitation and has a smaller motion amplitude
and stress (Beckmann et al., 1991).
Resonance phenomenon may occur when the
frequency of the hydrodynamic forces induced by a
Fig. 1: Use of flow lines offshore pipeline (from Bai 2001)
vortex shedding approach the natural frequency of
Due to budget constraints or harsh seabed
the pipelines. A resonating span can experience
conditions, most pipelines are just lowered from the
significant deflections and associated stresses.
lay barge to sea bottom without being buried. In such
Therefore, studying the hydrodynamic around the of
cases, free spans or suspended spans, i.e. the sections
pipeline and calculating the natural frequency of the
of pipeline that are not in contact with the seabed,
may form due to the irregularities of seabed or the marine pipeline in free spans accurately are very
scouring of underlying soil. Currents flowing across important. Several parameters such as pipeline
free spans of pipeline cause the formation and profile, axial forces, seabed soil ،boundary conditions
shedding of vortices. Vortices are shed in two ways. and others can influence the natural frequency of the
At lower flow velocities, vortex shedding is pipeline. Different design guidelines, e.g. (DNV,
symmetrical, i.e. vortices are shed simultaneously 1998; ABS, 2001), proposed a simple formulation to
from both sides of the pipe (Fig. 2a). At higher calculate the first natural frequency based on the
velocities, vortex shedding is asymmetrical, i.e. a pipelines specifications. Xu et al., 1999 applied the
vortex is shed from one side of the pipeline followed modal analysis to incorporate the real seabed
by a vortex shed from the other side in an alternating condition to assess pipelines fatigue and natural
pattern (Fig. 2b). frequency.
Choi (2000) studied the effect of axial forces on
free spanning of offshore pipelines. The results
indicated that the axial force has a significant
influence on the first natural frequency of the pipe.
He also compared his result with Lloyd’s approximate
formula, which estimates the first natural frequency of
the beam considering axial load effect. DNV, (2006)
guidelines proposed a formulation to calculate the
Fig. 2: Vortices and vibrations of free span section: (a) symmetrical
vortices and in-line vibration; (b) asymmetrical vortices and in-line
first natural frequency based on the pipelines
and cross-flow vibrations (Zhi-Gang Xiao et al., 2010) specifications, axial forces and static deflection. Zhi-
Symmetrical shedding causes the pipeline to Gang and Xiao- Ling (2010) investigated the
vibrate in line with the flow direction (Fig. 2a). influence of boundary conditions, mass of
Asymmetrical shedding, however, causes two hydrocarbon product, axial force, and multiple spans

26
 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol. 3/No. 8/June 2012/9/25-34
𝐿𝐿 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒
on the natural frequency by finite element method in ∫0 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸(1+𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶)∅" (𝑥𝑥)2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 +
𝑘𝑘 = 𝐿𝐿 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝐿𝐿
𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒
(3)
ABAQUS software. Review of previous studies ∫0 𝑘𝑘� ∅(𝑥𝑥)2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 +∫0 𝑁𝑁 ∅́ (𝑥𝑥)2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
showed that the influence of soil characteristic was
not considered in determining the natural frequency Where φ (x ) the first mode shape; E, modulus of
of free span. Therefore, the purpose of this study was elasticity; I, bending moment of inertia of pipeline, k�
calculating the natural frequency of free subsea the spring stiffness per unit length; N, axial force; m,
pipeline due to soil characteristic of supports of effective mass in the above equation, CSF, Concrete
pipeline in free span. In this regard, first, a formula Stiffness Factor; Leff, effective Length; L, free span
length- can be calculated from the following
for determining the natural frequency of pipeline in
relations according to DNV guidelines (DNV, 2006).
free span which can take into account the soil 0.75
 EI  (4)
characteristic of pipeline supports was presented. CSF = k c  conc 
 EI steel 
This formula could be soil bed by applying the
analytical Rayleigh method. Second, a pipeline
including its seabed characteristics around the supports (5)
has been modeled in ABAQUS.

2. Material and Methods

 K .L4 
β = log10   (6)
 (1 + CSF )EI 
2.1. Calculation of the Natural Frequency of the
Pipeline with Equation Where K is the relevant static soil stiffness
(vertical or horizontal); kc is an empirical constant
To obtain the natural frequency of a subsea accounting for the deformation/slippage in the
pipeline, the Rayleigh method was applied. This corrosion coating and the cracking of the concrete
method assumes that the maximum potential energy coating. The value of kc may be taken as 0.33 for
of the system is equal to its maximum kinetic energy. asphalt and 0.25 for PP/PE coating.
The natural frequency equation for such a beam
usually takes the following form (Chopra, 1995). 2.2. Influence of Pipelines Specifications on Natural
k Frequency of Pipelines
ω2 = (1)
m
Be considered the stiffness of the pipelines
Where, m is the total mass; and k is the total
specifications in equation (3), the stiffness include
stiffness. Total stiffness includes pipe flexural
following formula:
stiffness (Stiffness of the pipelines specifications)
Leff
∫
dependent cross section and pipe type, spring
= k EI (1 + CSF ) φ "( x) 2  dx (7)
0
stiffness for pipe soil interaction, geometric
stiffness caused by axial force. The total mass is To obtain the natural frequency of the pipelines
defined by pipeline mass, mass of concrete specifications, substitution of equations (7) and (2)
coating, mass of hydrocarbon product and added into equation (1)
Leff
∫
mass (Chopra, 1995). Therefore:
EI (1 + CSF ) φ "( x) 2  dx (8)
Leff fn 2
= 0

m =∫
Leff
m φ (x ) dx ∫ m( x) φ ( x)  dx
2 2
(2)
0 0

27
 Yeghoobi et al. / Determining Natural Frequency of Free Spanning Offshore Pipelines…

Solving the above integrals, the natural frequency described in the following formula as:
of the pipelines specifications was obtained as: 2 ρs 1
C L (1 + υ )(
kL = + ) D (10)
EI (1 + CSF ) 3 ρ 3
f n = k1 (9)
mLeff 4 C v 2 ρs 1 (11)
=kv ( + ) D
Where k1 is a constant that depends on end 1−υ 3 ρ 3
conditions (C=1.57 for pinned/pinned ends, C=2.45 In which the pipe diameter D is in units of meters
for fixed/pinned ends, and C=3.54 for fixed/fixed and the coefficients CV and CL are taken according
ends). The relation obtained is the same as the to Table1 and Table2 and ν is Poisson’s ratio.
formula given by the DNV and ABS guidelines. Table 1. Dynamic stiffness factor and static stiffness for pipe
soil interaction in clay
Therefore, the results can be used as a basis for
comparison and evaluation of the accuracy results for
the effect of seabed soil on natural frequency.

2.3. Influence of Seabed Soil on Natural Frequency

of Pipelines
Table 2. Dynamic stiffness factor and static stiffness for pipe
soil interaction in sand
To calculate the natural frequency of free
spanning subsea pipeline due to the soil
characteristics in different boundary conditions, soil-
pipe interaction must be simulated by vertical and
horizontal springs (Fig. 3). Figure 4 indicates schematic of the free spanning
of the pipeline on the seabed.

Fig. 4: A schematic representation of the free spanning of the

pipeline on the seabed
The following relationship between the effective
Fig. 3: Degrees of freedom of beam element in vertical plane (a),
lateral plane (b) and in ABAQUS) lengths ( Leff ), free spans length (L) and length of
So, vertical springs would not allow the pipes to pipe-soil (a) interaction was established (Fig. 4).
move upward (cross-flow) and horizontal springs Leff = L + 2a (12)
were installed to prevent the pipeline from vibration Where a is length of pipe-soil interaction. By
in the flow direction. considering the stiffness of the pipelines specifications
When the topographical conditions are not complex, and soil stiffness in equation (3), the stiffness included
the soils are non-stratified and homogeneous, and no following formula:
detailed analysis can be carried out for determination of 𝐿𝐿 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒
∫0 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 (1+𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶)∅" (𝑥𝑥)2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 +
kV and kL, the values of this stiffness in units of 𝑘𝑘 = 𝑎𝑎 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿
(13)
kN/m/m may be calculated in simplified manner ∫0 𝑘𝑘� ∅(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + ∫𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 −𝐿𝐿−𝑎𝑎 𝑘𝑘� ∅(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

28
 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol. 3/No. 8/June 2012/9/25-34

Where φ (x ) the first mode shape; E, modulus of x-, y and z-axis, respectively.
elasticity; I, bending moment of inertia of pipeline, k�
the spring stiffness per unit length; CSF, concrete
stiffness factor; Leff, effective length; L, free span length
which are calculated from the following relations
according to DNV guidelines. Substitution of equations
(13) and (2) into equation (1), without Considering
axial force leads to the following formula: Fig. 5a: Modeling pipeline in ABAQUS software

EI (1 + CSF ) [φ "( x)] dx + ∫ k [φ ( x)] dx + ∫ k [φ ( x) ] dx

Leff a Leff
∫
2 2 2
Leff − L − a
fn 2
= 0 0
(14)
m [φ ( x)] dx
Leff
∫
2
0

By solving the above equation, the pipe natural

frequencies can be expressed by following equation:

(1 + CSF )EI kLeff 4

fn k1 (1 + k ) (15)
(1 + CSF )EI Fig. 5b: Elements in the ABAQUS Model
2
Leff 4 m

In the proposed relationship, k2 was determined 2.5. Boundary Conditions in the ABAQUS model
using the following equation:
The ABAQUS model uses the boundary
∫ [φ ( x)] [φ ( x)]
a Leff
dx + ∫
2 2
dx conditions at the pipe-ends as shown in Figure 6 but
0 Leff − L − a
k2 = (16)
with additional restraints on the nodes of the PSI-
(2π k1 ) ∫ [φ ( x) ] dx
1 2
0 elements since these are not restrained by default.
The axial, lateral and vertical displacement of each
Equation (15) is the proposed relationship to
node of a PSI-element that is away from the pipeline
determine the natural frequency of formula, free
must be zero which are denoted with "A" in figure 6.
spanning offshore pipelines by considering the seabed
Recall that the displacements and rotations at the
soil characteristics and pipelines specifications.
pipe-ends are fixed which are denoted with "B". The
remaining nodes of the pipeline are free which are
2.4. Natural Frequency Analysis with Finite Element denoted with "C". The red contour indicates the
boundary of a single PSI-element.
Another method of calculating natural frequencies is
finite element methods by simulation pipeline and soil
interaction in the ABAQUS software. The ABAQUS
model uses two-nodal 3-D beam elements from the
library of ABAQUS v. 6.9.1. The pipeline at the side-
spans and mid-span was modeled as a series of
PIPE31-beam elements.
The beam element at the side-span were attached
to PSI34 (Pipe Soil Interaction) elements with non-
linear material behavior. The elements in the
ABAQUS model are illustrated in Figure 5. The
axial, lateral and vertical directions are given by the Fig. 6: Boundary conditions in the ABAQUS Model

29
 Yeghoobi et al. / Determining Natural Frequency of Free Spanning Offshore Pipelines…

2.6. The Mesh of the ABAQUS Model 3. Results and Discussion

For verifying pipeline model in ABAQUS 3.1. Evaluation of Results of Seabed Soil on Natural
software, used the pipeline with a length of 20 m laid Frequency
on seabed with the dense sand formation is used. In
the first step the pipeline is modelled with 60 To determine natural frequency of free spanning
elements (40 PIPE-elements and 20 PSI-elements). offshore pipelines with equations and FEA methods,
In this case the natural frequency of 12.241 kHz is the pipelines project at the Persian Gulf were
obtained. In the second step, the Mesh increases by considered with outside diameter of 812.8 mm and a
the increase of the number of elements. wall thickness and concrete thickness of 20.6 mm and
The pipeline is modelled with 110 elements (70 68 mm, respectively. The pipelines are laid on seabed
PIPE-elements and 40 PSI-elements); so, the natural with the dense sand, dense clay, firm clay and soft clay
frequency of 12.226 kHz is calculated. In the third formations. Properties of steel pipe are: 206,000 MPa
step, 210 elements are used for modelling pipeline for Young’s modulus, 0.3 for Poisson’s Ratio, and 7850
and Pipe Soil Interaction (130 PIPE-elements and 80 kg/m3 for the density for steel. The density of concrete
PSI-elements). In this case the natural frequency of is 3,040 kg/m3. Three combinations of end conditions,
12.226 kHz is obtained. Therefore, change does not i.e. pinned/pinned, fixed/pinned and fixed/fixed, were
occur in the natural frequency of offshore pipelines considered for each span length.
by increasing of the number of elements. Therefore, As the Figures 8, 9 and 10 indicate, the pipeline
the average number of considered elements has been frequency increases with shortening of pipeline length
used (110 elements). and fixity against rotation at the ends of the pipe.
In the ABAQUS model, the element size along the Seabed soil is able to change noticeably the intensity of
side-spans varies from large elements at the pipe- natural frequency. The natural frequency in the pipeline
ends to small elements at the pipe shoulder. This is increases with the increase of the soil stiffness.
referred to as a biased discretization. In addition, Therefore, dense sand has the greatest influence on the
buffer zones with a high number of elements have natural frequency when the free spanning support is the
been introduced at the mid-span close to the pipe fixed-fixed boundary condition. Nevertheless, the soft
shoulders in order to obtain a stable FEM-scheme. clay has no influence on natural frequency provided
For the single-span pipeline, the ABAQUS Model that the pipeline boundary conditions in both sides of
uses 70 PIPE-elements and 40 PSI-elements as free spanning are fixed-fixed boundary condition.
illustrated in Figure 7.

Fig. 7: Schematized illustration of mesh in the ABAQUS model Fig. 8: Effect of seabed soil on the natural frequency in fixed-
for the single-span pipeline. fixed boundary condition

30
 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol. 3/No. 8/June 2012/9/25-34

Fig. 13: The results of analysis in the ABAQUS software in

fixed / fixed boundary conditions for the pipeline with length 20
m lay on seabed with the firm clay formation

Fig. 9: Effect of seabed soil on the natural frequency in fixed-

pinned boundary condition

Fig. 14: The results of analysis in the ABAQUS software in

fixed / fixed boundary conditions for the pipeline with length 20
m lay on seabed with the soft clay formation

The results showed that by increasing the soil

stiffness, difference between the results reduces for
Fig. 10: Effect of seabed soil on the natural frequency in pinned- different the natural frequency Less dependent depend
pinned boundary condition
on the boundary conditions of the pipeline laid on the
As the Figures 11 to 14 illustrate the results of
seabed with the dense sand formations.
analysis in the ABAQUS software in fixed / fixed
boundary conditions for the pipeline with length of However, it should be reminded that this would be
20 m Laid on seabed with dense sand, dense clay, the case when the pipeline length is large enough. By a
firm clay and soft clay formations. Therefore, the change in the boundary condition from pinned/pinned
natural frequency in the pipeline increases by the to fixed/fixed, influence of the seabed soil on the
increase of the soil stiffness. natural frequency decreases. It can also be stated that
the soil has the minimal influence on natural frequency
of the pipeline when it is laid on soft clay formation
with fixed/fixed boundary condition.
Nevertheless, the highest influence is detected on the
Fig. 11: The results of analysis in the ABAQUS software in
fixed / fixed boundary conditions for the pipeline with length 20 natural frequency of the pipeline when it is laid on
m lay on seabed with the dense sand formation dense sand formation with pinned/pinned boundary
condition. The frequency results are plotted in Figs. 15
to 18. As the results indicate, good agreement was seen
between the finite element model and theoretical
frequency equation results, which demonstrated the
Fig. 12: The results of analysis in the ABAQUS software in validity of calculating pipeline frequencies with finite
fixed / fixed boundary conditions for the pipeline with length 20
m lay on seabed with the dense clay formation element model.

31
 Yeghoobi et al. / Determining Natural Frequency of Free Spanning Offshore Pipelines…

4. Conclusions

• The pipeline frequency increases with shortening

of pipeline length and fixity against rotation at the
ends of the pipe.
• The study Showed that the influence of soil
parameter plays a significant role in estimation of
natural frequency of free spamming offshore
pipelines.
Fig. 15: Effect of dense sand on the natural frequency of pipelines • Soil type had a significant influence on the
determination of natural frequency of free spanning
pipeline, such that the natural frequency in the
pipeline increased by the increase of the soil
stiffness.
• With increase in soil stiffness, difference between
the results reduced for different boundary
conditions, such that natural frequency would not
depend on the boundary conditions of the pipeline.
• The results of finite element model and proposed
Fig. 16: Effect of dense clay on the natural frequency of pipelines analytical equation were close to each other
which demonstrates the validity of the finite
element model.

References

ABAQUS., 2010. ABAQUS Version 6.9.1. Analysis

User’s Manual. ABAQUS online documents.
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)., 2001.Guide
for Building and Classing Subsea Pipeline
Fig. 17: Effect of firm clay on the natural frequency of pipelines Systems and Riser. USA.
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)., 2008.Guide
for Building and Classing Subsea Pipeline
Systems and Riser. USA.
Bai, Y., 2001. Pipelines and Risers. Elsevier Ocean
Engineering Book Series. 495P.
Beckmann, M. M., Hale, J. R. and Lamison, C.
W.,1991. Spanning can be prevented, corrected in
deeper water. Oil & Gas Journal, 89(51): 84-89.
Choi, H.S., 2001. Free spanning analysis of offshore
Fig. 18: Effect of soft clay on the natural frequency of pipelines pipelines. Ocean Engineering. 28(10):1325-1338.
32
 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol. 3/No. 8/June 2012/9/25-34

Chopra, A.K., 1995. Dynamic of Structures. USA. Engineering. USA. Penn Well. 588P.
Prentice Hall. 992P. Xiao, Z.G., Zhao, X. L., 2010. Prediction of Natural
Det Norske Veritas (DNV)., 1998. Free Spanning Frequency of Free Spanning Subsea Pipelines.
Pipelines. Guidelines No. 14. Norway. International Journal of Steel Structures.10 (1): 81-89.
Det Norske Veritas (DNV)., 2006. Free Spanning Xu, T., Lauridsen, Bo. and Bai, Y., 1999. Wave-
Pipelines. Guidelines No. 14. Norway. Induced fatigue of multi-span pipelines. Journal of
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Yeghoobi et al. / Determining Natural Frequency of Free Spanning Offshore Pipelines…

Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol. 3/No. 8/June 2012/9/25-34
Journal of the Persian Gulf
(Marine Science)/Vol. 3/No. 8/June 2012/9/25-34

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