Wave forces on large offshore pipelines

A laboratory investigation of wave forces induced by a regular train of waves on a large pipeline resting on the bed and at various clearances from the bed is presented. From considerations of dimensional analysis horizontal and vertical components of wave forces acting on the pipeline are expressed as force coefficients which are shown to be functions mainly of H/2a, gT2/2a, d/a and e/2a. A simple unseparated flow model based on potential flow theory and Morison's equation is presented for evaluating the maximum forces on the pipeline. The experimental results are com3ared with the theoretical results and data from existing literature. Based on the experimental results, hydrodynamic coefficients CM and CL have been evaluated. © 1985.