1.

0 Introduction
Swivel-Ring Flanges allow for easy alignment of bolt holes when making a connection to a
standard flange. Consisting of an inner hub that is welded in place and an outer flange ring that is
free to rotate, swivel-ring flanges can be installed in many difficult situations. Commonly used in
subsea applications, swivel-ring flanges can often be installed by a single diver, which reduces
cost and increases safety. In this case, swivel-ring flange is applied on the wall of I-tube. Swivel
flange is acting as a connector between bell-mouth and bend stiffener with an angle of 16
degrees. The connection of swivel flange between bell-mouth and bend stiffener is shown in the
Figure 1.

Figure 1

1.1 Purpose of Document

This document collates the result of the structural integrity check of swivel flange while
various types of loadings applied on it by Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software,
ABAQUS. The hand calculations have performed to access the structural integrity check on
swivel flange.

2.0 References
The following documents will be used as the basis for integrity check:

2.1 Project References

No
1

Description
48IN 600 SWIVEL RING

Document No.
SRF480006A-GAA0812

FLANGE GENERAL
2

ARRANGEMENT 0812 NOM WT

Layang - 13in Gas Lift Rise Option 1
Layang - 13in Gas Lift Riser
Table 1

2.2 Software
Software
ABAQUS 6.14
MathCAD 15.0
Autodesk DWG True View 2013

Application
Finite Element Analysis
Analytical Calculations
Modeling
Table 2

3.0 DESIGN DATA AND CRITERIA

This section presents the design data to be used in the structural integrity check performed by
FEA software and analytical calculation.
3.1 System of Units
SI units shall be used for all design work throughout the project. Standardized diameters for
pipes may be expressed in inches ( or inch). For flexible pipe, value expressed in inch
3.2Materials
Steel material are selected and used on weld neck fixed flange, swivel flange and I-Tube.
3.3 Steel Properties
The mechanical properties at ambient temperature for steel material are presented Table

Steel property
Steel density

Unit

Value
7850

Youngs Modulus

kg/m3
MPa

200000

Shear Modulus

MPa

80000

Poissons Ratio

Table 3

0.30

3.4 Design Loads

The loads for this integrity check is extracted from Flexible Riser and are described as below.

Loads
Bending Moment (kNm)
Shear Force (kN)
Gravity (mm/s2)

Units
800
280
9810

Bending
Moment

Shear

Table 4
4.0 SUMMARY OF RESULTS
A I-Tube system is modeled in FEA ABAQUS. There are three types of I-Tube system were
being modeled in FEA ABAQUS and various types of loadings are loaded on the system in order

to determine the induced stresses. In this case, the main concern is Von Mises Stress. Multiple ITube systems were modeled in FEA ABAQUS are listed as follow:
1. I-Tube system (Welded)
2. I-Tube system (Bended)
3. I-Tube system presented in beam element (For Checking Purpose)
Multiple types of loadings were being loaded in the system are listed as follow:
1. Bending Moment 800 kNm
2. Shear Force 280 kN
3. Gravity 9810 mm/s2
4.1 FEA Results
The FEA results are extracted from the FEA ABAQUS program and are shown as below. The
results will be included the analysis for the I-Tube system under the various loading conditions.

Welded I-Tube System

Full Model

I-Tube

Fixed Flange

Swivel Flange

Bended I-Tube System

Full Model

I-Tube

Fixed Flange

Swivel Flange

Based on the result shown above the induced Von Mises Stress on the bended I-Tube system is
lower than the welded I-Tube system. The Induced Von Mises Stress on the bended I-Tube
system is 84.48 MPa whereas for the welded I-Tube system is 84.70 MPa while various types of
loadings are applied on the system. This result shown that the different of the Von Mises stress
induced while various types of loadings applied on the I-Tube systems is 0.22 MPa (0.2%). This
different does not bring a huge impact on the system itself. Hence, in this case, the welded ITube system is selected instead of the bended system due to fabrication wise. There are quite a
number of extra works have to be performed if while fabricating the I-Tube system if the bended
I-Tube system is selected. However, the welded I-Tube system do not has a smooth inner surface
at the welded part. Therefore, a rubber protection layer has to be inserted into the inner surface of
the I-Tube on the welded part in order to prevent scratches happens on the surface of the flexible
riser.

4.2 Data Validation

Validity check has been performed in FEA ABAQUS by replacing the I-Tube system with beam
element. The result is obtained from FEA analysis and is shown below.

Based on this result, it clearly shown that all the Von Mises stresses are accumulate on the I-Tube
while various types of loadings applied on it. The Von Mises stress induced on this beam element
is 79.85 MPa uniformly throughout the I-Tube (beam element). This result is used to perform the
validity check with the actual model. A different of 4.85 MPa Von Mises stress between the ITube (beam element) and the actual model. Hence, we can assume that only 4.85 MPa of Von
Mises stress is being absorbed by the fixed flange and swivel flange. Therefore, we can conclude
that the fixed and swivel flange that are going to apply on the I-Tube system do not bring a huge
impact on the I-Tube system. Although, the self-weight of the flanges are high but the selfweight itself does not induce a huge amount of Von Mises Stress.
4.3 Analytical Calculation
An analytical calculation has performed in MATCAD software in order to validate the maximum
Von Mises stress.

The calculated Von Mises stress is slightly less than FEA ABAQUS Von Mises stress. The
induced Von Mises stress according to the hand calculation is 81.203 MPa. When comparing the
calculated Von Mises stress to the ABAQUS Von Mises stress there is a percentage difference of
4.1 percent. This is fairly accurate and the hand calculation validates the stress at the center of
the test specimen.
5.0 Conclusion
Swivel flange and fixed flange do not bring much impact on the I-Tube system. The induced Von

Mises stress while swivel flange and fixed flange are attached on the I-Tube system is 84.70 MPa
for welded I-Tube. This induced Von Mises stress is lesser than the allowable Von Mises stress of
the I-Tube system which is (0.67 x 215 MPa) 144.05 MPa. Therefore, we can conclude that our
selected swivel flange is applicable on this I-Tube system while various types of loadings are
applied on the system. However, there are some precautions needed to be carried out in order to
prevent the welded inner surface of the I-Tube break the flexible riser. More research on the
selection of the protection layer on the welded part of the I-Tube have to be studied in the future
in order to protect the flexible riser.