AME5005 Mechanical Design

UOB/ITP
Semester 2017/2018-2

Assignment 2: Design of Pipe Temporary External Clamp

Overview:

Midline Tie-in or Above Water Tie-in (AWTI) is an operation where two laid down pipelines
on the seabed are welded together after being lifted above water using vessel davits. For
AWTI the standard steps are as follows:
 Both pipeline ends are lowered on seabed by the laybarge with an over length for the
tie-in.
 Davit lift cables are connected to the pre-installed clamps on pipeline. Pipeline end
sections are completed with clamps during lowering on the seabed for the lifting
purpose
 Both pipelines are lifted above the water surface on the long side of the vessel and
lined up for surface connection.
 The abandonment / pull heads are removed and the pipe is prepared, aligned using
an external clamp for tie-in and pipes welded together
 Pipeline lowering.

External clamp location

Figure 1.0: AWTI conceptual

The project should address the following (but not limited to):
 Background information on the offshore pipelines.
 Determination of design basis and specifications.
 Clamp design suitable for pipe size from 12” to 24”.
 Clamp is able to aligned the pipes and withstand offshore loading.
 Assumption of the loading due to wave.
 Selection of pipe material for the clamp.
 Simple and detailed analysis.
 Use of codes and standards, clearly stating all the assumptions.
 AME5005 Mechanical Design
UOB/ITP
Semester 2017/2018-2

In this project, your team will design and analyse the external clamp use for offshore pipeline
above water tie-in operation. Your team must provide a detailed design report and meet all
design and performance criteria. During the design process, you must use a combination of
sketching and simple models, including free body diagrams and analyses in symbolic form;
computer‐aided design tools, including for modeling, static stress analysis, catalog selection
processes; and material selection processes.

Your team will evenly divide project tasks, such that members participate in all parts of the
design process evenly. Your final report will include documentation of the division of efforts.
In addition to your design report, there will be a group presentation at the end of the
semester.

Please read each project description in full as they come out, so that you are not surprised by
deliverables at the last moment. Please use the course email address, lecturer office hours,
and/or Q&A sessions at the beginning of class if you have any questions about the project.

Final Design Report:

You will submit a final report presenting your final design, as well as the conceptualization,
simple modeling, detailed modeling and analysis, and manufacturing that went into its
creation (if any). The report should be divided into the following sections:

1. Title page – Title of the project, name of the student on the group and work
distribution.
2. Summary – One page summary and findings.
3. Introduction
Provide background information, the aim and scope of the project. Explain the
importance of the topic and its importance with regard to mechanical engineering.
State the objectives of the project. Literature review of the topic can also be included
in this section.
4. Design and analysis
Provide the information and relevant design and analysis in sufficient detail. You have
to cite the source for all of the information you include in the report. Present
equations and relevant formulations. Clearly state all the assumptions. Make use of
table and figures when presenting results. Discuss the results and try to make sense
of them.
5. Conclusion – Make some concluding remarks on the design, analysis and findings.
Provide some key recommendations.
6. References – List all references using an appropriate format.