ABSTRACT
High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) offshore pipelines are essential constituents of deep water hydrocarbon extraction facilities. During operation, the high operating temperature tries to elongate the pipe. The axial elongation is resisted by the friction of the seabed, which imparts compressive force on the pipeline. Axial interaction forces depend on the interface frictional behavior between soil and the pipeline material. Deep water pipelines are partially embedded exerting low normal forces on the seabed. Therefore, it is important to measure interface friction at low normal stress for estimating axial interaction forces for these pipelines. This study focuses on measuring the interface behavior between Indian marine silt and mild steel using a modified direct shear machine. It will contribute to the existing knowledge on offshore pipeline design, providing useful data from interface shear tests on a local soil.
