Table 2
Load characteristics for each possible deformed shape of a typical unbonded flexible pipe considering different annulus conditions and axisymmetric loading.
| | Shape | Load characteristics† | Annulus |
| | 1 | High tension (no axial compression), low internal pressure, high external pressure, moderate torsion | | | 2 | Low tension or axial compression, high internal pressure, low external pressure, low torsion | | | 3 | High tension, high internal pressure, moderate external pressures (internal pressure higher than external pressure), low torsion | | | 4 | High axial compression (no tension), high internal pressure, low external pressure, low torsion | Dry | | 5 | High tension and internal pressure, no external pressure, moderate torsion | | | 6 | High axial compression, low internal and external pressures, low torsion | | | 7 | High tension and low internal and external pressures, low torsion | |
| | 8 | Analogous to shape 1 | | | 9 | Analogous to shape 2 | | | 10 | Analogous to shape 3 | | | 11 | Analogous to shape 4 | | | 12 | Analogous to shape 5 | Flooded | | 13 | Analogous to shape 7 | | | 14 | High axial compression, no internal pressure, high external pressure, low torsion | | | 15 | High tension, no internal pressure, high external pressure, low torsion | | | 16 | Pure external pressure | |
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†The fundamental aspect is to maintain the proportionality between the loads. Therefore, a high load value could be its limit for the studied flexible pipe; a low value may be, for instance, 1% of the limit value, and a moderate value could be 50% of the limit value.
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