The engineering of buried pipelines is becoming increasingly complex, as the demand grows for longer systems that have to negotiate an ever-growing number of surface and subsurface obstructions. The foundation of large pipes in the soft soil of the Netherlands already crowded with other pipelines and structures of all types makes for quite a significant engineering challenge.
The structural design of buried pipelines involves calculations of the stresses and deflections that result from the internal and external loading on the pipes. DIANApipe is said to offer significant improvements over previous methodology for this, both in terms of speed and efficiency. The mathematical analysis models give valid results, and the interface is straightforward for engineers to use. It can handle complex calculations quickly and accurately, enabling design issues to be solved faster.
The software was launched earlier this year as a specialist version of TNO Diana’s general-purpose finite-element-analysis (FEA) software,and DIANApipe now brings advanced analytical techniques to pipeline engineers’ desktops without demanding specialist FEA knowledge. The software has extensive material, element, and procedure libraries based on advanced database techniques, linear and non-linear analysis capabilities, and full 2D and 3D modelling. The core software also contains non-linear functionality and subsoil-modelling techniques that are vital for the accurate prediction of the behaviour of pipelines in their working environments.