Bending restrictors are used in offshore production systems to prevent overbending of flexible risers adjacent to subsea terminations. This paper reviews the procedures in bending restrictor design, analysis and testing. Typical areas of application and the elements comprising a bending restrictor are outlined. General manufacturing principles are discussed with particular reference to the materials used in this manufacture, typically polyurethane plastics. The design procedure and testing of a bending restrictor are also outlined. Detailed finite element models of a bending restrictor in three-dimensions are used to validate its design. A particular feature of these models is the accurate simulation of the nature of the contact and transmission of forces between the interlocking elements of the bending restrictor. Good agreement is reported between these detailed models and measured data from destructive tests carried out by CRP Marine.
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