New 3D FE Engine

SimPipe, SAGE Profile 3D new computational engine, models the pipe by discretising it into sections of finite length. These sections of finite elements are 12 DOF’s beam elements which are bounded at either end by nodes. It uses a transient dynamic explicit integration kernel to solve the pipeline system.

SimPipe calculates the movements of the nodes over the progression of time. SimPipe is an inherently dynamic program. As it computes the dynamic motion of the pipe it is ideally suited for the pipe laying process. By introducing the concept of damping, this dynamic approach can also be used for obtaining the solution to typically static problems.

Once the pipeline has been laid, further 3D pipeline analyses can be performed by the new computational engine. Pre-defined load conditions are empty, waterfilled, hydrotest and operational case. Pipeline-soil interaction is modelled accurately by the use of advanced soil spring and 3D Digital Terrain Model (DTM).