| dc.description.abstract | Abstract
The network of submarine cables for both electricity transport and communications is widespread. To avoid interruptions of service and decrease the repair costs, a service life of more than 30 years is generally required. Submarine cables for power transmission are usually made up of several layers to protect electrical conductor against the? marine environment.
The aim of this work is to improve the understanding of the mechanical properties for the material used as electrical conductor, that is ETP copper (Electrolytic Tough Pitch) and find numerical models that describe the deformation over time under constant loads at room temperature. The experimental conditions are intended to reproduce the stresses developed in the conductor by the cable deposition process, when it is not yet in operation but is subject for a long time to its own weight and to the tension generated by the tensioning system on the cable-laying vessel.
Two experimental campaigns were carried out to characterize both tensile properties and creep proprieties of ETP copper.
In the first experimental campaign, tensile tests were carried out at several strain rates on a set of cold drawn and a set of annealed specimens dependence on strain rate.
The second set of tests were performed to study the creep properties of ETP copper at room temperature under different load conditions and on a set of cold drawn and a set of annealed specimens.
The aim of this step was to develop a numerical model to describe time dependent deformation. A numerical model has been calibrated and implemented in Abaqus: a power law and the Anand model. | |