The characteristics of a model pipeline plough

The performance of full scale seabed pipeline ploughs has been investigated through a series of 1/50th scale laboratory model plough tests. The tests have been undertaken in both dry and saturated sand tests prepared at various relative densities. The relationship between plough tow force and displacement is presented for the model plough for different soil and plough loading conditions. It is shown that model tow loads when scaled up can be used to verify empirical plough performance models developed from full scale field conditions. However to closely match field conditions there is a need to increase the magnitude of "static" drag coefficients which has been attributed to excessive soil dilation associated with low effective stresses when carrying out small scale laboratory studies