**4. Results and comparisons**

translated and rotated to cylindrical coordinates. A least-squares node-matching routine then identified the nodes in the COMSOL mesh closest to each node in the Abaqus mesh within longitudinal neighbourhoods of 100 mm. The resulting field was then inputted as a discrete field into the Abaqus model. An example of the result of running the algorithm is shown in **Figure 12**, with the COMSOL temperature output on the left hand side and the resulting temperature field in Abaqus shown on the right. For the validation of the numerical models against the experiments, temperature fields were outputted at the appropriate cooldown times related to the time after IMPP application recorded during the bend tests. Since there was a half hour to an hour difference in application time between the two FJCs for a particular test pipe, and thus a noticeable difference in temperature, separate temperature fields were

**Figure 12.** Example of transferral of COMSOL temperature output to a discrete field in Abaqus.

88 Finite Element Method - Simulation, Numerical Analysis and Solution Techniques

mapped around the two joints.

**Figure 13.** Bend cycle steps modelled in Abaqus.

In this section, the results of the bend tests are discussed, and comparison is made with the predictions of the numerical model.
