Rotational Translational Movement Imposition for Macroelements

Abstract Finite Macroelements for flexible pipe modeling is a research line under development by the authors. They profit from the geometrical characteristics of the pipes in the formulation, leading to well-behaved contact models with fewer degrees of freedom. Their use makes it possible to simulate the layer interaction. Previous works presented the macroelements that have already been developed: a helical metallic element, an orthotropic Fourier element, and elements to represent the contact between layers, including or not friction. Boundary conditions play a vital role in the structure’s response and must, thus, be correctly modeled to achieve the desired results. They can generally be expressed in applied loads, namely force and moments, or imposed movements, such as displacements and rotations. In numerical models, applying the boundary condition as movements is more manageable and tends to lead to models with an easier convergence. The present paper shows the complementary work of a previously presented one that imposes translational movements in the macroelement model by creating a rigid section. The model for section rotational movements is detailed in the current paper, highlighting the used hypothesis. It also shows the results for the isolated elements and a simplified combination of helix and cylinder using bonded contact, with agreement when compared to commercial software.