Finite element modeling of porous polymer pipeline coating using X-ray micro computed tomography

Abstract Offshore pipelines are designed to sustain impact from fish trawl equipment and anchors, but due to component complexity, insulating coating solutions are often neglected in mechanical capacity estimates. In this work, efforts are made to predict the mechanical behavior of a typical polymeric insulating coating solution using the finite element method. To do so, the multi-scale morphology of porous polymer coating specimens was mapped using X-ray Micro Computed Tomography (XRMCT) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). XRMCT-based finite element models were then derived, analyzed and evaluated against compression tests and the DSC results. The modeling approach produced good correspondence with experimental tests.