A TENSIONER FRICTION AND WEAR SIMULATION TESTING TRIBOMETER FOR SEABED PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION
Tensioner is key equipment during deepwater pipe-laying process. It relies on the contact friction between elastic rubber block on the track link and pipeline outer wall to ensure a stable pipe-laying in a constant tension and velocity. It is necessary to study the frictional behaviors of various elastic rubber materials against pipeline steel, concrete, etc. In this research, a tensioner friction and wear simulation testing tribometer is introduced, which would be used to test tribological properties under different conditions. Meanwhile, this tribometer’s ability to resist seawater corrosion has already been considered. The testing load and velocity are selected according to a former conversion, and can be changed with a control system. This tribometer is able to test frictional characteristics such as friction coefficient, load, velocity, and so on, and these parameters are in an acceptable error band.