Applications of Numerical Methods to Some Structural
Problems in Offshore Operations
HUDSON MATLOCK
ABSTRACT
Beam-columns with continuous or discontinuous trans-
verse and angular loads and elastic restraints are repre-
sented mathematically in a manner corresponding to
finite-element mechanical models. Solutions for linearly
elastic cases are accomplished by direct recursion-equation
elimination of unknowns, and for cases involving non-
linear loads and supports, by repeated trial-and-ad;ustment
of complete elastic-type solutions.
Five practical applications are presented by which
various capabilities of the general method are illustrated.
The examples include simulation of a pipeline launching
and the bending and collapse of a conductor pipe in deep-
water drilling operations.
INTRODUCTION
The diversified and complex operations being conducted
in support of the production of offshore oil have produced
a wide variety of new problems in structural mechanics.
Many of these problems cannot be solved by conventional
analytical or experimental approaches and have therefore
stimulated inquiry into new methods of solution.
It is the purpose of this paper to give a brief description
of an analytical method for solving nonlinear beam-column
problems and to illustrate the generality of the method
by applying it to several problems related to offshore
operations. Although the data for all of the examples are
artificial, the cases discussed will be recognized as being
based on actual situations.
DESCRIPTION OF METHOD
The analytical approach which is to be described stems
from research on offshore foundations, in particular, the
study of lateral-load behavior of foundation piles. The
method represents a generalization of a technique which
was suggested by Gleser' and extended by Focht and
McClelland" and Reese and Matlock.'
To maintain generality and therefore versatility in the
method, a considerable variety of input data is considered.
Fig. 1 illustrates the various types of loads and restraints
which might be applied to a short segment of a beam. Each
of the terms illustrated in the figure is shown acting in a
positive sense. Capital letters are used to designate con-
centrated quantities whereas the corresponding lower-case
Original manuscript received in Society of Petrolewn Engineers office
Dee. 17. 1962. Revised manuscript received Aug. lZ. 1968. Paper pre·
sented at the SPE-U. of Texas Conference on Drilling and Rock Me-
chanics. Jan. 23-24. 1968. in Austin. Tex.
'References given at end of paper. SPE 486
1040
THE U. OF TEXAS
AUSTIN, TEX.
symbols indicate effects which are distributed in some way
along the length of the beam.
The transverse loads and the elastic restraints may be
divided into two classes: (1) loads Q and q and springs
Sand s, which act normal to the axis of the beam, and
(2) couples T and t and rotational springs Rand r, which
act in an angular sense. In addition, there is an axial force
P which may be constant or may vary along the length
of the beam.
The bending stiffness of the beam (the product EI of
the modulus of elasticity and the moment of inertia) is
designated by the symbol F.
The assumptions of conventional elementary beam the-
ory provide the basis for the present method. Among these
are the neglect of shearing and axial deformations and the
limiting of consideration to straight beams of symmetrical
cross-section. Lateral deflections are considered to be small
compared to original dimensions. A deformed element of
such a beam is shown in Fig. 2a. The curvature of the
beam is approximated by the second derivative of the
deflection y with respect to distance x along the beam. It
is assumed that the material of the beam is linearly elastic
and therefore the relation of Eq. 1 between curvature and
bending moment M is the ordinary expression from ele-
mentary beam theory.
A generalized beam element is shown in Fig. 2b. The
element has been deflected in a positive direction by an
amount y and tilted through a small positive angle dy/ dx.
The various loads and elastic restraint reactions are de-
tailed in the figure. Temporarily, only distributed effects
are considered; provision for concentrated loads and re-
straints will be made subsequently. Eq. 2 in Fig. 2b is
obtained by summing the forces and moments acting on
I
TRANSVERSE LOADING I a T
I ~ lb. in-Ib
TriCh
In-Ib
~o~~~:r ~t~l~l~l~l__~___n__n_n__n___()
__~
AXIAL
M.,n-Ib( I I)
"::'~.Im 1: Tf) JI -
LOAD
ELASTIC RESTRAINTS s R
Iblln Ib/in ~ in-Ib/rad
InCh inch
FIG. I-LOADS AND RESTRAINTS CONSIDERED IN THE BEAM·
COLUMN SOLUTION.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY
the element. This equation is similar to that of conven-
tional beam theory except that (1) the total transverse
load includes both forces and spring reactions and (2)
an additional term du/ dx is added to express the rotational
effccts. Thc rotational effects include applied couples, and
restraints against angular movement of the element. The
two sources of angular restraint are the spiral springs and
P, the axial tension or compression. Although the dis-
tributed rotational effects rand t are introduced for the
development of equations, it will be seen that in solving
actual problems only the concencrated versions of these
terms are used.
In order to apply numerical techniques for computa-
tion, Eqs. I and 2 are converted to the corresponding
finite-difference forms given in Eqs. 3 and 4 of Fig. 2c.
The beam is divided into m increments of equal length h
and the subscript i designates any particular station or
increment point along the beam. The recursive finite-
difference form of Eq. J is repeated three times as Eq. 3
to express the bending moment at three adjacent stations.
The equations are then substituted into Eq. 4 to produce
the fourth-order difference expression given by Eq. 5. This
equation, written repetitively for each station along the
beam, is the general form for a system of m + 3 simul-
taneous equations in which all of the beam deflections y,
are the unknown quantities to be solved. The expressions
for the coefficients in Eq. 5 introduce all of the pertinent
input data for beam stiffness, applied loads and elastic
restraints at each station.
I a)
To provide for maximum convenience and versatility, it
is highly desirable that provisions be made to introduce
data at points along the beam in a purely random or dis-
continuous manner. The key in the technique of combining
two second-order equations (Eqs. I and 2) into a finite-
difference form (Eq. 5) is that nowhere is it assumed that
a derivative is continuous over an interval and nowhere is
a conventional derivative of a product taken. Instead, each
quantity is expressed in the most elemental finite-difference
form as soon as it is introduced, and all subsequent com-
binations are made by simple algebraic manipulation. If
this procedure is not followed, other equally valid forms
can be obtained for the coefficients in Eq. 5; but they do
not necessarily allow complete freedom in introducing
input-data quantities which vary abruptly or discontinu-
ously between increment points. In all subsequent expres-
sions the distributed quantities of load and restraint are
replaced by lumped concentrated quantities at increment
points. Such lumped quantities either may represent con-
centrated effects directly or may be used as approximations
of distributed effects per increment length h.
If input-data quantities are considered to be concen-
trated at the increment points, the beam-element model in
Fig. 3 represents an exact mechanical model of Eq. 5. The
figure shows all quantities related to a single typical point,
Station i. The bending stiffness Fi is represented as con-
centrated at the increment point in the form of a spring-
restrained hinge between two rigid segments. All load and
support values are ultimately felt by the beam as trans-
verse forces applied at increment points. This is obvious
for the lateral load Q, and for the couple of forces T, /2h.
It is also true for the reaction from the spring S as well
as for two equal but opposite reactions from the angular
restraint <T' which is used temporarily to express the com-

STA:
-sw
dx

I w
d'M
= q-sw +
du
dX ..
I )

where
(2
JLi
~----.-:l u = j+ +~ 2hj
~=MI
'-
____ ---'.(1)
_
+ = r+ P

(e)

(
M , -2M, +M,., \= -s w +(-u,., +u,.,)
h' -; q, " 2h

where u, +~(-W'-'+W,.,)
, 2h

~, +~

(5)

where 0, = 1=;-1 - O.25hz t'_1

b, = -2(F,_, +F,)

d, = -2(F, +F,.,)

e, F,.,-O.25h'~,.,

t, = h'q; -O.5tr(t,_,-t",)

FIG. 2---DI·:VELOI':lIL\T OF FOl.'RTH-ORllLH. lJIFFI:m::,CL E<,lIATIO"

FRO:\l TilL TII'o SECO\D·ORllF.R DIFFERE:\TIAL EVLITlO\"; FOR TilL FIG. ,3-'IiECHA:\ICAL FI:\I'n:-Eu:~u: 'iT B£,nr MOllEL FOlI
Bt-:A'l-COIX~I'\. SI:\Il'L'Tl~G BLA:\I-COU;:l[" BI:HAYIOR.

SEPTEMBER, 1963 10·n

 bined effect of a rotational spring R and the axial tension
(or compression) P.
The system of In + 3 difference equations is solved by
a direct procedure in which unknowns are eliminated
progressively. The process is particularly convenient for
machine computations since it can be summarized in the
form of a recursive set of equations which are solved in
succession at station after station along the beam. Fig. 4
illustrates the sequence of computations and summarizes
all the equations that are needed. The derivation of Eqs. 6
and 7 proceeds from Eq. 5 in a relatively simple manner.
First it is assumed that an equation exists which is of
the form given as Eq. 7 in Fig. 4. In this equation the
deflection y; at any station is expressed in terms of three
previously computed coefficients A;, B; and C; plus two
previously computed deflections at the two adjacent up-
stream stations. In the process of verifying the existence
of Eq. 7, the expressions in Eq. 6 are more or less auto-
matically developed.
The procedure for solving a problem is quite simple and
straight-forward: (1) coefficients A;, B; and C; are com-
puted starting at a fictitious station past the left end of
the beam and proceeding through a second fictitious sta-
tion at the right end; and (2) Eq. 7 is then applied in re-
verse direction along the beam and the solution of the set
of In + 3 simultaneous equations is completed. Modern
high-speed computers can perform these computations
for 1DO-increment problems in a total time of one
second. Furthermore, the amount of computational effort
increases in proportion to only the first power of the num-
ber of increments, whereas in other methods of solution
of simultaneous equations the amount of arithmetic may
increase in proportion to a higher power of the number
of increments.
Some degree of approximation is inherent in all finite-
difference expressions of continuous functions. The trunca-
tion errors in the present method are indicated by the
mechanical model of Fig. 3. The model represents a finite,
lumped-value approximation of the real beam-column. No
further error is introduced in the solution since the equa-
tions are exact representations of the finite-element model.
Truncation errors may be minimized by increasing the
number of increments into which the member is divided.
As an example, the maximum deflection of a simply sup-
ported beam with constant cross-section and a concentrated
load at the center can be computed to an accuracy of 2.0
F; ;: FLEXURAL STIFFNESS(EI)
~ Tih ~T'
t
.. --k::l-T"-"'-:-r--.!....I~§...--;~;-1 p
F=O
FI:-lt
--j r- h S,
-I 0 1 2 3 •.. i-2 H i
sr RT
A, D[EA..,+GA,_,- h'Q, + 05h'(T,_,- T,.,)]
r- B,' o [EC,_, - 2(F, + F,., ) I
C, o [ F, .. - O.2Sh ~,+, I
WHERE:
o = -v'[E~_,+GC,_tFi_"4~ +~,,+h'S,
E· G8 1_ 2 -2(Fi_I+F,
G;: Fi-.- 025h~i_'
' -_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _--' ... (6)
FINISH
y, = A,." B,y.. , .. C, Y..,
' -_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _- ' ...(7)
FIG. 4--F(lR:VIAT FOR DIRECT Q'(cE-THROCGH SOLCTIO,(
SYSTD! OF Tn +
3 SC\IlTLTA,(EOI:S EQJ:ATHns.
1012
per cent with 10 increments and O.l per cent with 50
increments. For practical problems the errors in the
method are seldom troublesome.
It is often desirable to consider beams or columns
whose loads and restraints are not linearly proportional to
deflection. As shown in Fig. 5, for any specific deflection y
it is possible to represent temporarily a nonlinear force-
deformation relation in terms of a tangent to the curve.
Such a tangent has an intercept Q and a slope -S which
correspond to values of lateral load and lateral spring
restraint. To solve a nonlinear problem, repeated trial-and-
adjustment solutions are made, with a single complete
elastic-type beam-column solution in each trial.
The general approach is diagrammed in Fig. 6. With
nonlinear load and support curves specified as needed at
points along the beam, values of Q and S are revised prior
to each new trial solution. The computed deflections are
tested against the previously computed set, and when all
the deflection values are found to be stabilized within a
preset tolerance, the trials are terminated. The deflection
and its derivatives are then determined for each station.
EXAMPLE SOLUTIONS
Five different problems and their solutions have been
selected to illustrate applications of the general method.
All of them involve loads and supports which are not
constant with deflection, and therefore each has been
solved with multiple applications of the basic beam-column
method, in the manner described in Fig. 6.
Pipe lift-off. The problem described in Fig. 7a involves
a nominal 12-in. pipe resting on a fairly rigid horizontal
surface. The problem is to determine the shape of the
deflection curve and the point of contact with the surface
when one end of the pipe is raised to a small height.
The appropriate finite-element beam-column model is
shown in Fig. 7b. The dead weight of the beam is sup-
ported by a bed of very stiff springs. As shown in Fig. 7c,
the springs have the characteristic of reacting a downward
W=Q-Sy
h
<fo, • R, + ~ h W
1~h-T-+ t F=O
~-;--!lr-r--T-&>·--+
R,
i+i 1+2 . .. rn-I m m+1
-sy
Q
Y--i
.. O.2ShloII,_, .t,.,)]
Y
OF 'fHI: FIG. 5-REPRESE:\TATIO); OF NO_,LINEAR LOADS A!\D SLPPOR'fS m
ELASTIc-TYPE VALn:s HELD TE~IPORA!uLY C:O'(S'fA,('f.
JOPR'\"AI. OF PETROI.Er:vr TECH'\"OI.OGY
deflection with an upward force, but of offering no resist-
ance to upward deflection. The resulting deflection curve
is shown in Fig. 7d; the first contact with the supporting
surface is made at Station 23. To provide a basis for
computing stresses in the beam, the bending moments
would be obtained by differentiating the deflections.
One point of particular interest in the problem is the
method by which the end of the beam is raised a specified
amount. This can be accomplished by applying an ex-
tremely large force Qa together with a correspondingly
large spring constant So in such magnitudes and in such
a ratio as to over-ride any other data at the end station
and produce the desired deflection. What amounts to the
same manipulation is provided by setting the coefficient
Ai in Eq. 7 equal to the specified deflection and B, and C,
equal to zero.
Drill-string buckling. By incremental variation of axial
load, it is possible to use the procedure to solve elastic
buckling problems. To illustrate this capability the drill-
string buckling problem solved by Lubinski' is considered.
The particular version assumed for an example is shown
sion. Fig. 8a shows that a O.I-m. eccentricity has been
provided in the input data.
The resulting solutions in Fig. 8c show how the lateral
deflections increase as the tensile force at the top of the
string is reduced so as to increase the force on the bit in
very small steps. As the critical buckling situation is ap-
proached, the deflections increase more and more rapidly
with change in load. Finally, as the load reaches 11.3 per
cent of the total dead weight of the string, the pipe comes
to rest against the side of the hole. Solutions were also
made for several subsequent increments of load, but very
little further change occurred in the deflection pattern.
F, I. 08S X 10'0
(b) Q.»
{
Q (DEA D WEIGHT 1 -109 L8 jlNCREMENT

in Fig. 8a. The problem is concerned with a pipe in a

drilled hole in which the axial force varies along the
length in accordance with the effective weight of the pipe
and its contents. In the present solution the effect of the o. S = 2 X 10
9

walls of the hole is represented by the force-displacement

s. =
100 INCH L8/IN PER INCR \

~~,
curve shown in Fig. 8b. Just as a real column requires a
(d)
slight amount of crookedness or eccentricity to develop
buckling in a progressive way, so does the simulated ver-
I
...
(
...J
iN CONTACT
READ INPUT DATA "'o /
I ~ STATION' 10 15 20 25 30
I : ASSUME INITIAL DEFLECTIONS FIG. 7-THE PRf1BLF.:\T OF LIFTI'iG A BEA\I RESTJ:\G O'\" A HARD
I I SCRFACE.
I I
I I
I Y STA.
I I o ----

I
L
I t~ _ NONLINEAR LOADS AND SUPPORTS BENDING STIFFNESS
F = 1.215 x 109 LB-IN Z
I
I
I
~Y !
LENGTH = 100 INCREMENTS
x 100 IN/INCR = 10,000 IN.
TOTAL EFFECTIVE WEIGHT
= 42,600 LB
I

I I EFFECTIVE RADIUS FOR

DEFLECTION = 31N.
I
-
I
I
Q, S REVISIONS
---------
\
, BEAM - COWMN SOWTION

~I 1
F=f r.:r +Q
w

'=l~' 1I I ~~ 111 1
--

COMPUTE NEW DEFLECTIONS Y 31N.r

PRINT RESULTS
x, y, dX'
~
dY
TEST

M,
dM ~M
0.1 -INCH
ECCENTR ICITY
ASSUMED
~31N
B7

100

dx"" ' dx 2
(0)" ( b) (c)

FIG. 6-GE:OO:/{AI. PROCEDURE FOR THE SOL(;TIO" OF BEA,I' FIG. H-BE:\Dl:\G A.\ll BUCKLl"G OF A DRILL ST/{I"G BECAI;SE OF
COLC~I'iS WITH NO'iLl:\EAR SITPORTS. ])ISTRIBJ:TElJ Ih:All·WF.lGIIT EFFECTS.

~EPTEMBER. 1'l63
When the pIpe comes to rest against the side of the hole,
the weight on the bit for the next critical buckling condi-
tion is advanced considerably and the deflection pattcrll
is therefore temporarily stabilized.
Ofl.vhore foundation alld structural l/Iwly.lis. To achievc
a rational solution for a laterally loaded pile, a deflected
shape must be computed for the pile which is compatible
with the characteristics of the superstructure and with the
force-deformation characteristics predicted for the soil.
Fig. 9a illustrates a jacket-Ieg-and-pile combination from
an offshore structure, and Fig. 9b indicates how this com-
plete member can be represented in the beam-column
solution. The translation and tilt indicated in Fig. 9b
either may be the finally determined position of the
structure or may represent a trial position used during
reaching the ultimate solution. The wave forces produce
bending between the support points, and the rotational
restraints from connecting members of the structure at the
support points are also introduced.
An axial load is included and the soil characteristics
are described by an array of force-deformation curves at
key points along the length. In the solution the soil char-
acteristics at every station in the embedded zone are inter-
polated between adjacent force-deformation or W-y curves.
Changes in bending stiffness are also indicated at several
points along the leg and pile combination. The resulting
deflection curve is shown in Fig. 9c and the corresponding
bending moments are given in Fig. 9d.
This example illustrates how a complete solution may
be made directly for bending in the main members in a
structure by the reduced-frame approach. It also appears
feasible to use the general beam-column representation as
an clement in the solution of complex frames.
Pipeline launching. Fig. lOa illustrates a hypothetical
problem involving nonlinear loads and supports which are
derived from buoyancy effects. The figure is intended to
represent an imaginary case of launching of a pipeline
which involves the transfer of load from roller supports to
flotation tanks. Load-deformation curves are used to rep-
I
----i--~~
I
I ~~~~~~~TS
I AT JOINTS
--VI
I I
I
J SOIL
W -1--
==l=y
=-=1----:::::
*~
(0) STRUCTURE (b I BEAM-COLUMN REPRESENTATION
FIG. 9~ TTlE SOUTIO:'( OF A (:cnIPLLTI~ .hCKET-LU;-\:'(D-PILL CO'IIlI:,(ATIO:,(.
IOU
resent the buoyancy of both the pipe itself and of the tanks
which are used for flotation. Until a solution is reached,
the points at which certain notation tanks begin to be
effective are uncertain and both the deflection curve and
the bending moments arc highly indeterminate. The solu-
tion for denection is shown in Fig. lOb and the bending
moments are given in Fig. lOco The negative deflection of
3.6 ft at Station 40 is not enough to engage the float at
that station, with the result that severe bending moments
are created at Station 30. For the case considered, the
computed maximum elastic stress is 43,000 psi.
Deep-water drilling. The problem described in Fig. lla
is a hypothetical version of one which has been solved
recently. The problem is to examine the behavior of a
long conductor pipe used in deep-water drilling as it is
affected by a number of variables. The factors include
movement and roll of the vessel, the characteristics of a
cushion in the opening at the bottom of the vessel, lateral
forces from currents, the characteristics of the soil in
restraining the tilt of the unit at the bottom, and the effect
of variations in drilling-mud weight and of the lifting force
at the top of the unit. The problem would perhaps be
more realistic if a hinge had been shown near the bottom
instead of considering continuity into the soil. Such a
hinge could be introduced very simply by setting the bend-
ing stiffness F equal to zero at the desired station.
In Fig. 11 b the characteristics assumed for the cushion
at the bottom of the vessel are shown by a W-y curve.
An effective clear zone of 1 ft each way from the
center position is indicated. This zone is bounded by a
region of linear force-displacement representing the cush-
ion. Deflection is limited to about 4 ft by the greatly
increased stiffness at the ends of the curve. To represent
movement of the vessel, the deflection at Elevation + 20
is specified as desired and the W-axis of the curve in Fig.
1 I b is shifted by an appropriate amount.
For the particular example considered, the soil char-
acteristics provide relatively rigid restraint at the bottom,
and considerable variations could be made in the curves
--
I
I
I
7 I
I
I
(c I DEFLECTION CURVE (dl BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAM
JOURX AL 0 F PETROLEt:M T Ef: I[;-iO LO (; Y
 fORCE - DISPLACEMENT FOR ~-FT OIA
6Ul)'tANCY OF LINt
PER 10-F T INCREM[Nl 't 12"FT LONG BUOYANCY TANKS
of Fig. 11 c without significantly affecting the results.
LENGTH " 2014 LB Instead, the most important parameter is the magnitude
I w

1I.+~
iFF7cT~~ -1 -r ~
3
I

___ 4.0 FT SlACK

y
of the upward load at the top of the conductor and its
relation to the distributed weight of the pipe and contents.
Fig. lId shows the deflected shape of the conductor
under four different combinations of conditions which are
BUOYANCY
described by the notes adjacent to the curves. In the first
) two cases the entire dead weight is carried by the vessel.
In Case I the deflection is sufficient barely to engage the
cushion at Elev -20 and produce a small restraining force.
STATION -1100 FT r- In Case 2 the reverse roll of the vessel and the deflected
10 20 30 40 70 80 90 100 shape of the conductor allow the conductor to pass through
without touching the cushion. In the last two cases a
LINE IS 24 -IN OIA :y'B-WALL PIPE, WEIGHT- COATED TO 302 LB/FT
)I.
considerate reaction is developed at the bottom of the
8
BENDING STIFFNES S F " 4.17)1. 10 LB - FT2
vessel.
{CI PROBLEM The influence of the dead-weight load is clearly evi-
dent in Cases 3 and 4 where collapse due to buckling is
indicated. Actually, the solution for Case 4 is inexact
because the beam-theory assumption of smalJ deflections
8 '
(b) vERTICAL DEFLECTION OF LINE {FT)
has been clearly violated; however, the range of tolerable
deflections has been so obviously exceeded that there is
---1---

---
I

-- --- STATION little practical significance in the error.

I

40 50 60 70 80 90 100

-2
10 20 30
SUMMARY
-4
-6
The beam-column solution which has been described
provides for the direct analytical simulation of a wide
variety of problems in structural bending or buckling.
The principal features of the approach are summarized
as follows.
1. Equations are derived in such a way that all data
for beam stiffness and for loads and supports may be
varied at random at each increment point along the beam.
6
-0.4 tel BENDING MOMENT ( 10 FT-LB) 2. The expressions provide exact mathematical corres-
-0.5 pondence to a mechanical finite-element beam model
which may be used as an aid for engineering visualization
and interpretation.

(0 )
fi t ELEV
- - +30FT ELEV
f- IOFT ---j
BARGE -+20 +20
-=-0 - - 0

=--20 W(LB) -20

CUSHI[>_N_ _~

, +40,000 CURRENT
FORCES
CONDUCTOR
12-IN DIA
(b)
I
_1_-
j iCLEARANCE

+ I _ _+_4_ Y (FT)
ONLY.
p,' TOTAL
DEAD WT, ~=80%OF
F' 5 X 107 LB-FT'
-4 _I P, • 0 TOTAL DEAD WT.
TOTAL EFFECTIVE P, REDUCED,
WEIGHT - FORCE - Pb = 70 % OF MAX DEFLECTION
52.000 LB DISPLACEMENT TOTAL DEAD WT 140,6 FT AT
-40POO
=P, + Pb FOR CUSHION BARGE ELEV - 205 FT
~
-/ MOVED 10FT, MAX DEFL 35,3 FT
CURRENT FORCE 2-DEG AT ELEV - 185 FT
5 LB/FT REVERSE

)
ROLL, P,' 0
(e)
SOIL RESPONSE
(INTERPOLATED WITH
RESPECT TO DEPTH)
WIDIA
ELEV,
-470 10' LB/FT
"""""""",litm.",." -370 -370- ~~~

GUIDE UNIT
30-IN, DIA ---400
F • 2 x 10' LB-FT 2

(d) DEFLfCTION OF CONDUCTOR

-1(1)
_II)'" I H/t T

",
FIG. ll-SI\Tll.ATIO:\ OF TilE nl:IIA\WH OF A DEEP-WATUI DHILLINC C(),IlIiCTOR PIPE ThnEn TIle T:\F1,I'F:\CI: or
\' AHIOllS PAJ\A\IETERS.

SEPTE~IBER, 1963
 3. A direct one-pass method is used which achieves
maximum computational efficiency in solution of the
equations for elastic beam-columns.
4. Multiple trial-and-adjustment solutions are made to
provide solutions for problems involving nonlinear loads
and supports.
Use of the method in design tends to promote the
application of engineering judgment and decision while
minimizing the time spent in tedious calculations. Its gen-
erality (within stated bounds) allows a reduction in usual
efforts to adapt conventional special-case solutions in me-
chanics to complex problems. Once the basic data for a
problem have been set up, variations of individual para-
meters are quite simple to introduce and the effects of a
wide range of variables can be evaluated with very little
effort.
The example problems have indicated the range of
application of the method in one general area. A num-
ber of additional uses are suggested below.
1. The method described is being successfully applied
as a key technique in an alternating-direction solution of
generalized grid-beam systems and slabs.
2. It appears to be feasible and expedient to use the
present method as an element in the solution of more
complex structural frames.
3. Problems in inelastic bending can be handled by ad-
justing the bending stiffness F between trial solutions in
much the same way as the nonlinear supports were
treated.
10·16
4. By following an approach similar to that used for
formulating the beam-column solution it is possible to de-
velop corresponding solutions in other areas. The basic
method for solving the equations can be shown to be gen-
eral for problems involving ordinary linear differential
equations with constant or variable cofficients.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks are given to two graduate students at
The U. of Texas, Wayne B. Ingram and T. A. Haliburton,
who have assisted in development of the method presented
and in formulating the necessary computer programs.
The excellence and convenience of the facilities at the
Computation Center of The U. of Texas have contributed
significantly to the development.
REFERENCES
1. GIeser. Sol .\1.: "Lateral Load Tests on Vertical Fixed-head
and Free-head Piles", Sympusium on Lateral Load Tests VII
Piles. ASTM Special Puhlication No. 154 (1953) 75.
.J Focht, John P. .. Jr. and McClelland, Bramlette: "Analysis of
Laterally-Loaded Piles hy Difference Equation Solution", The
Texas Engilleer, Texas Section, ASCE (1955).
3. Reese, Lyman and i\latlock, Hudson: "Numerical Analysis of
Laterally Loaded Piles", Proc., Second Structural Division
Conference on Electronic Computation, ASCE, Pittshurgh
(1960) 657.
.1. Luhinski, Arthur: "A Study of the Buckling of Rotary Drill-
ing Strings", Drill. and Prod. Prac .. A.PI (1951) 178.***