Elongate tape element and method
An elongate tape element, a flexible pipe body and method of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The tape element ( 508 ) has a cross-sectional profile comprising a body portion ( 510 ) for being positioned between collapse resistant tape windings ( 501 ) such that each body portion ( 510 ) lies at least partially in a gap ( 512 ) between adjacent collapse resistant tape windings ( 501 ); and at least one wing portion ( 516 ) extending from an end region of the body portion, the at least one wing portion configured to span the gap and respectively abut with a radially inner surface of an adjacent collapse resistant tape winding.
1. An elongate tape element for forming a helically wound layer of windings in flexible pipe body of an unbonded flexible pipe for transporting fluids from a deep water subsea location, the elongate tape element being configured for alternate winding with a collapse resistant tape in a helical manner to form a collapse resistant layer, wherein the elongate tape element has a cross-sectional profile comprising:
a body portion for being positioned between collapse resistant tape windings such that the body portion lies at least partially in a gap between adjacent collapse resistant tape windings; and
only a single wing portion extending from an end region of the body portion;
wherein the body portion lies in the gap and abuts a side wall of a collapse resistant tape winding;
wherein the only single wing portion is configured to span the gap and abut with a radially inner surface a collapse resistant tape winding; and
wherein the elongate tape element has a substantially uniform thickness across the cross-sectional profile.
2. The elongate tape element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body portion abuts a respective side wall of each adjacent collapse resistant tape winding.
3. The elongate tape element as claimed in claim 1 wherein a wing span of the only single wing portion is about 3 times a maximum gap width between the collapse resistant tape windings.
4. The elongate tape element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body portion extends at least 2% along a radial length of the gap.
5. The elongate tape element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body portion is at least partly discontinuous or varies its radial length along the elongate tape element.
6. Flexible pipe body for transporting fluids from a deep water subsea location, comprising a collapse resistant layer having an elongate tape element as claimed in claim 1 , the elongate tape element being alternately wound with a collapse resistant tape in a helical manner.