The reliability assessment method for sealing structure of subsea horizontal clamp connector based on sealing and strength

The reliability assessment of the Subsea Horizontal Clamp Connector (SHCC) sealing performance faces a challenge due to the lack of characteristic dimension evaluation methods. Hence, this paper develops the Comprehensive Sealing Reliability Evaluation (CSRE) method. This approach allows for the simultaneous analysis of failure in two dimensions: structural sealing and structural strength, incorporating the uncertainty of fuzzy stress in the evaluation. The CSRE method is based on Bayesian networks, using contact stress as a critical parameter to establish structural sealing failure nodes with gasket coefficients combined with the API standards for acceptance. Simultaneously, it establishes structural strength failure nodes using an improved stress interference model. When applying the CSRE method, this paper, through Monte Carlo simulations combined with torque transmission mechanics and finite element contact models, analyzes the reliability variations of the developed SHCC under different torque levels. The results indicate that the sealing reliability of SHCC is related to sealing pressure and structural strength, with excessively high or low torque affecting its sealing reliability. At an input torque of 2400 N·m, its reliability reaches the maximum value, which is 0.9912. The presented CSRE approach, validated through experimentation and method comparison, demonstrates greater alignment with engineering practicality.