Fibre Reinforced Composites in Pipeline Applications: Design Issues and Current Research

Abstract

Fibre reinforced polymeric composites used in pressure retaining structures are seen as an attractive alternative to products made from conventional materials due to their corrosion resistance and high strength-to-weight ratio. The reluctance in adopting composite materials, however, is due to a limited understanding of the material behaviour under a variety of loading and environmental conditions, and lack of qualified design methodologies. It is the purpose of this paper to address fundamental and applied issues regarding their feasibility and current limitations in pipeline applications. A review of pertinent research results with respect to the local and global behaviour in composite pipes will be discussed.

Marine Application of Fiber Reinforced Composites: A Review

“…Therefore, in order to ensure the durability of offshore components, avoid losses of mechanical resistance connected to the chemical decay, steel pipes have to be equipped with an efficient cathodic protection system by means of a sacrificial anode. Subsea pipelines, due to external pressures and bending stresses during laying, must be made with steels with high mechanical strength (type API 5L class X65 and above) [22,26,27,35,36].…”