Automated Mudmat Design Using Abaqus FEA at Foster Wheeler

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Automated Mudmat Design Using Abaqus FEA at Foster Wheeler

Foster Wheeler engineers built Mudmatician software integrated with Abaqus to automate stress and buckling analysis for custom plate mudmats used in subsea oil and gas installations.

Published

June 4, 2026

Read time

3 min read

Source

Mudmats support subsea equipment such as PLETs and PLEMs when seabed soil cannot bear loads. Previously, engineers performed manual buckling checks using API codes after extracting stresses from Abaqus FEA, a process that took weeks. The new Mudmatician tool automates model generation, stress extraction at nine panel locations, and buckling verification, reducing analysis time to days. The workflow supports rapid design iteration and emergency projects while lowering human error risk.

Key takeaways

Mudmatician automates panel stress extraction and buckling checks per API Bulletin 2V

Analysis cycle time reduced from weeks to days for custom mudmat designs

Python scripts within Abaqus APIs generate models and post-process results

Utilization factors flag panels exceeding buckling limits for quick redesign

Automation enabled rapid response to urgent client mudmat requests

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