Finite Element Analysis of Thermoplastic Composite Pipes Under Installation Loads

Thermoplastic Composite Pipes (TCPs) design must consider operational scenarios and installation-specific loads, such as crushing loads from tensioner systems sustaining the pipe’s self-weight. This study introduces a finite element (FE) model to analyze TCP behavior under crushing and tensile loads. Developed in ANSYS®, the model incorporates three-dimensional solid elements to simulate the pipe layers and the tensioner equipment’s pads. Load capacity curves were generated for a case study, illustrating the relationship between crushing and tensile loads under different failure criteria. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis on lay-up and tensioner configurations shows that fewer tensioner tracks cause higher localized deformations and reduced structural integrity. The results highlight the importance of selecting optimal tensioner setups and lay-up designs to enhance TCP performance.