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The purpose of this paper is to mainly review the state-of-the-art developments in the field of hydrodynamics of offshore pipelines, identifying the key tools for analysis of pipeline free spans, their applications, their qualifying characteristics and capabilities and limitations.

These different analytical, numerical and semi-empirical tools available for predicting such hydrodynamic loads and their effects include VIVANA, PIPESIN, VIVSIM, SIMULATOR, FATFREE, amongst others. Inherent in these models are current effects, wave effects and/ or pipe–soil interactions.

Amongst these models, the most attention was given to the new VIVANA model because this model take into account the vortex-induced effects with respect to free-spanning pipelines (which have dominant effect in the span analysis in deep water) better than other semi-empirical models (such as Shear 7). Recent improvements in VIVANA include its ability to have arbitrary variation in speed and direction of current, as well as the ability for calculation of pure IL and combined IL-CF response. Improvements in fatigue assessments at free spans, i.e. pipe–soil interaction have been achieved through the combined frequency domain and non-linear time domain analysis methodology adopted. Semi-empirical models are still the de facto currently used in the design of free-spanning pipelines. However, there is need for further research on free-span hydrodynamic coefficients and on how in-line and cross-flow vibrations interact. Again, there is still the challenge due to VIV complexity in fully understanding the fluid structure interaction problem, as there is no consolidated procedure for its analysis. It has been observed that there is large scatter between the different codes adopted in the prediction of fatigue damage, as there lacks full-scale test data devoted to determination/validation of the coefficients used in the semi-empirical models. A case study of the preliminary design of a typical 48 in. pipeline has been presented in this study to demonstrate the use of the free-span analysis tool, DNV RP F105. Excel spreadsheet has been applied in the execution of formulas.

This review paper is the first of its kind to study the state-of-the-art development in pipeline free-span analysis models and demonstrate the use of analysis tool, DNV for MAFSL calculation. Hence, information obtained from this paper would be invaluable in assisting designers both in the industry and academia.

The dynamic characteristics prediction and frequency-modulation of pipeline was an important work for the design of aircraft hydraulic structure.

A complex pipeline was deemed as a combination of several segments of straight-pipe-element (SPE). The 3D vibration equations of each SPE were established in their local coordinate system based on Timoshenko-beam model and Euler-beam model, respectively. The dynamic-stiffness-matrixes were deduced from the dispersion relation of these equations. According to the complex pipeline layout in the global coordinate system, a multi dynamic stiffness matrixes assembling (MDSMA) algorithm was carried out to establish the characteristic equations of the whole complex pipeline. The MDSMA solutions were verified to be consistent with experimental results.

The MDSMA method based on Timoshenko-Beam model was more suitable for the short span aviation pipeline and the vibration at high frequency stage (>350 Hz). The layout affected the pipeline's in-plane stiffness and out-plane stiffness, for the Z-shaped pipe, each order natural mode took place on the ZP and NP alternately. Reasonable designs of bending position and bending radius were effective means for complex pipeline frequency-modulation.

A new dynamic modeling method of aircraft complex pipeline was proposed to obtain the influence of pipeline layout parameters on dynamic characteristics.

Conventionally, oil pipeline projects are evaluated thoroughly by the owner before investment decision is made using market, technical and financial analysis sequentially. The market analysis determines pipelines throughput and supply and demand points. Subsequent, technical analysis identifies technological options and economic and financial analysis then derives the least cost option among all technically feasible options. The subsequent impact assessment tries to justify the selected option by addressing environmental and social issues. The impact assessment often suggests alternative sites, technologies, and/or implementation methodology, necessitating revision of technical and financial analysis. This study addresses these issues via an integrated project evaluation and selection model. The model uses analytic hierarchy process, a multiple‐attribute decision‐making technique. The effectiveness of the model has been demonstrated through a case application on cross‐country petroleum pipeline project in India.

In the coupling of aircraft pipeline structures, current research works mainly focus on fluid-solid coupling effects or a single part of structure vibration like a pipeline. Because of the clamp, the pipe vibration caused by fluid pulsation was transmitted to the body, and the body vibration was also transmitted to the pipe structure. Thus, the relationship between the airframe and the pipeline system cannot be separated, and the influence of airframe needs to be considered when coupling structure under vibration. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

This paper aims to investigate the influence of pipeline layouts on airframe-clamps-pipeline (ACP) structure’s dynamic response by experiment and simulation method. First, ACP structures are established including three parts. The natural frequencies and mode shapes are obtained by hammering experiment. The mode results are in agreement with numerical simulation. By using electromagnetic vibration shaker, extinction is applied on ACP structure, and then the dynamic responses of structure can be obtained by test equipments. The influence principle of pipeline layouts is obtained by dynamic response analysis. The present study provides a method for pipeline layout design in aerospace engineering.

Under the ACP’s first-order resonance frequency excitation, the maximum stress increases when the Z-shaped pipeline bending position changes from 1/2 to 1/5. The opposite way occurs under the only pipeline resonance frequency excitation. The stress amplitudes near both sides (inner and outer) of the clamp on the plate surface change with the excitation frequency. Under the ACP’s first-order resonance frequency excitation, the outer side stress is larger than the inner side stress, but under the only pipeline resonance frequency excitation, the inner side stress is larger than the outer side stress.

The study of the effect of pipeline layout parameters on ACP structure provides a method for pipeline layout design in aerospace engineering.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a systemic approach to evaluate physical condition of water pipeline infrastructure with limited condition assessment data that can help asset managers prioritize capital investments in maintenance projects for urban water pipeline systems.

Spatial pattern analyses are conducted in this research to find the spatial pattern of the service life of pipelines. Based on the spatial relationship, the critical areas where groups of pipelines with short service life are likely to be found were located using spatial statistical analyses. A visualized platform was also developed and used to validate the implementation of the proposed approach with the case study of urban water pipeline infrastructure in a city in the Midwest region of the USA.

The results of the spatial pattern analyses reveal that water pipelines are spatially clustered based on their service life. Further, it was found that on average the pipelines in the center of a city have longer service life while the average expected service life of the pipelines in the marginal areas is shorter. The interpolation method produced raster data with continuous information about the service years of pipelines that are useful for asset maintenance planning.

With the limited data, the proposed approach enables identification of the critical area of water pipelines with the likelihood of shorter service life. This result can be used as a priority rule for a rehabilitation plan and contributes to shifting from a responsive to a preventive approach in underground asset management.

Discusses an ongoing programme, the overall purpose of which is to develop an integrated set of stochastic simulation models of firms in the textile, apparel and retail industries. The models are to be used primarily for research, education and industrial problem solving in the areas of plant and company operations with emphasis on Quick Response (QR) methodologies driven by Point‐of‐Sale (POS) data. A second objective is that of developing interactive management information systems using high‐level decision‐surface models (simulation metamodels) of expected system performance as a function of key input parameters.

Steel price uncertainty exposes pipeline projects that are inherently capital intensive to the risk of cost overruns. The current study proposes a hedging methodology for tackling steel pipeline price risk by deploying Asian option contracts that address the shortcomings of current risk mitigation strategies.

A stepwise methodology is introduced, which uses a closed-form formula as an Asian option valuation method for calculating this total expenditure. The scenario analysis of three price trends examines whether or not the approach is beneficial to users. The sensitivity analysis then has been conducted using the financial option Greeks to assess the effects of changes in volatility in the total price of the option contracts. The total price of the Asian options was then compared with those of the European and American options.

The results demonstrate that the Asian option expenditure was about 1.87% of the total cost of the case study project. The scenario analysis revealed that, except for when the price followed a continuous downward pattern, the use of this type of financial instrument is a practical approach for steel pipeline price risk management.

This approach is founded on a well-established financial options theory and elucidates how pipeline project participants can deploy Asian option contracts to safeguard against steel price fluctuations in practice.

Although the literature exists about the theory and application of financial derivative instruments for risk management in other sectors, their application to the construction industry is infrequent. In the proposed methodology, all participants involved in fixed price pipeline projects readily surmount the risk of exposure to material price fluctuations.

The purpose of this paper is to address the novel issues of executing graph optimization tasks on distributed simple growing biological systems.

The author utilizes biological and physical processes to implement non‐classical, and in principle more powerful, computing devices. The author experimentally verifies his previously discovered techniques on approximating spanning trees during single cell ontogeny. Plasmodium, a vegetative stage of slime mold Physarum polycephalum, is used as experimental computing substrate to approximate spanning trees. Points of given data set are represented by positions of nutrient sources, then a plasmodium is placed on one of the data points. Plasmodium develops and span all sources of nutrients, connecting them by protoplasmic strands. The protoplasmic strands represent edges of the computed spanning tree.

Offers experimental implementation of plasmodium devices for approximation of spanning tree.

The techniques, discussed in the paper, can be used in design and development of soft bodied robotic devices, including gel‐based robots, reconfigurable massively robots, and hybrid wet‐hardware robots.

Discusses original ideas on growing spanning trees, and provide innovative experimental implementation.

Other exhibits were previewed in the October issue