Offshore Piping Stress Analysis With Caesar II
Target Audience:
This course is designed for professionals involved in the design, analysis, and maintenance of offshore piping systems, including:
- Piping and pipeline engineers involved in stress analysis of offshore systems
- Mechanical and structural engineers responsible for offshore piping design
- Design and drafting personnel working with piping layouts and support systems
- Plant and facility engineers responsible for maintenance and troubleshooting of offshore piping systems
- Graduate engineers and trainees looking to develop expertise in piping stress analysis
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the principles of piping stress analysis in offshore environments
- Apply industry codes (e.g., ASME B31.3, B31.4, B31.8) to piping design and stress evaluation
- Model offshore piping systems using CAESAR II software
- Perform static and dynamic stress analysis including thermal expansion, weight, pressure, and environmental loading
- Design and evaluate piping supports, anchors, and restraints
- Identify and resolve typical piping stress problems such as nozzle overloads, thermal displacement, and vibration
Module Highlight
Introduction to Offshore Piping Systems
- Overview of offshore piping in FPSOs, platforms, and subsea tiebacks
- Types of offshore piping loads and constraints
- Environmental and operational challenges (temperature, movement, wave loading)
- Codes and standards overview (ASME B31.3, API RP 2A, DNVGL)
Fundamentals of Piping Stress Analysis
- Primary vs. secondary loads
- Types of stress: sustained, expansion, occasional
- Pipe flexibility and thermal expansion
- Stress categorization and code compliance
Introduction to CAESAR II
- Overview of CAESAR II interface and functionalities
- File structure and workflow
- Pipe input: geometry, materials, temperatures, pressures
- Boundary conditions: anchors, guides, and supports
Building Piping Models in CAESAR II
- Modeling pipe routes, bends, tees, reducers, and flanges
- Assigning restraints, spring hangers, and expansion joints
- Defining load cases: thermal, weight, pressure, wind, and wave
- Using the piping input spreadsheet and isometric import features
Static Stress Analysis
- Analyzing sustained and expansion stresses
- Code compliance checking (ASME B31.3)
- Interpreting results: displacement, forces, and stress plots
- Evaluating nozzle loads and connected equipment limits
Dynamic and Seismic Analysis (Advanced)
- Introduction to dynamic analysis principles
- Wind, wave, and vessel motion loading
- Modal analysis and natural frequency checks
- Time history and response spectrum analysis (overview)
Piping Support Design and Optimization
- Types of piping supports (rigid, spring, snubbers)
- Support spacing, location, and stiffness considerations
- CAESAR II support modeling techniques
- Load distribution and stress relief optimization
Offshore-Specific Considerations
- Effects of vessel motion and platform flexibility
- Expansion loops and FPSO riser interfaces
- Slug flow, vibration, and erosion issues in offshore systems
- Case studies of offshore piping failures and mitigation
Reporting and Documentation
- Generating and customizing stress reports
- Creating support load summaries
- Interpretation of results for design verification and regulatory submission
- Communicating with structural, process, and layout teams
Hands-On Workshop and Case Study
- Guided CAESAR II modeling and analysis exercise
- Building a sample offshore piping system from a P&ID/isometric
- Evaluating and resolving stress issues in the model
- Peer review and discussion of analysis results