Study of mechanical behavior and sealing performance of the subsea clamp connector considering material elasto-plasticity

The structural mechanics and sealing characteristics of subsea connectors, which connect the many components of a subsea oil and gas production system, are essential to their efficient operation. A theoretical mathematical model of a subsea clamp connector is developed in this research, with torque as the input and seal average contact pressure as the output. First, the relationship between the locking torque and the preload of the metal lens-type gasket (hereinafter referred to as “gasket”) is determined by analyzing the load transfer relationship between the connector components. The sealing theoretical model of gasket preload to sealing average contact pressure is then established, based on the line contact elastic-plasticity theory in conjunction with the force analysis of the gasket and sealing criterion. The theoretical model is validated directly through finite element simulation, and it is validated indirectly through the experimental method. And the sealing performance and mechanical behavior of the gasket are investigated based on finite element simulation. The engineering use of subsea clamp connectors can benefit from theoretical guidance from the modeling.