Hi Abaqus Users and Community,

I am working on analysing subsea pipeline response while resting on seabed soil at some portions along its route. The pipe-soil interaction is modelled using springs in three directions (i.e., axial, lateral, and vertical) for static and modal analyses. The stiffness of the springs is linear elastic using a single stiffness value, while connectors allow for the application of non-linear stiffness but with unloading conditions for both soils, the response will follow the same path returning to the origin as if nothing happened which doesn't represent the actual behaviour and deformation happened to the soil.

The question here is about time-domain simulation where the interaction between the pipe and soil will vary with time. The soil like any other material, deforms with load application, especially for cyclic loads (e.g., loading and unloading conditions), and a hysteresis loop is developed. I want to model such soil behaviour with the interaction with the pipe, i.e., define a specific hysteresis loop. I wonder how I can adopt this behaviour in the Abaqus model where the pipe is modelled as a beam/pipe element.

Regards,

Salam