Design of subsea cables/umbilicals for in-service abrasion - Part 1: Case studies

Abstract Submarine cables play a vital role in a myriad of industries around the globe, including power transmission and communication. Failure of submarine cables can have significant economic and technical implications worldwide. Current design methods for submarine cables focus on the ultimate limit states that address the cables structural integrity and on-bottom stability. However, abrasion of the outer protective layers (i.e. yarn and extruded sheaths) can progressively lead to damage and failure of submarine cables when the integrity of the armour sheathing is compromised. This paper documents several case studies of severe abrasion of submarine cables/umbilicals and undertaken corrective measures. The paper also presents some guidelines to be considered in the design process of submarine cables concerning abrasion. The findings of this paper suggest that abrasion should be considered a limit state that must be addressed in the design process of submarine cables and umbilicals. A detailed analysis of the underlying abrasion failure mechanisms is presented and explained in a companion paper (i.e., Part II: Mechanisms).