REVIEW ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF FLEXIBLE PIPE PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY IN DEEP-SEA MINING

The ocean contains abundant mineral resources, and the development of deep-sea mineral resources has gradually become a research hotspot in the academic and engineering communities. The pipeline lifting mining scheme is currently recognized as the most commercially promising marine mineral development scheme. As a link between submarine relay compartments and offshore mining platforms, mineral transportation pipelines need to withstand harsh wind, wave, and current environmental loads as well as complex working conditions. Their design, manufacturing, and mechanical performance analysis have always been of great concern. Compared to rigid pipelines, flexible pipelines have lower bending stiffness, are easier to install and recycle, and have a longer service life. However, the structure of flexible pipes is complex, and the layers interact with each other. Due to the limitations of their own structure, metal flexible pipes are difficult to be widely used in the deep-sea mining industry. People have begun to focus on the design and application of non-metallic flexible pipes. This article reviews the development history of flexible pipes, summarizes and elaborates on the mechanical performance analysis methods and mechanical characteristics in the design and manufacturing of flexible pipes, and provides prospects for the future development of flexible pipe design and manufacturing to the best of our ability.