Tether Clamps
In certain configurations flexible risers need to be secured to the seabed. This is often done by means of a steel tether clamp, tether systems and a seabed anchor. The clamps are designed to withstand high differential axial loads on the riser, together with high tether loads to the anchor, whilst coping with all the usual difficulties of clamping onto flexible structures, i.e. expansion, contraction, low friction etc.
Also to be considered in the design of such clamps is bending protection, since the clamps are usually located in a dynamic section of the riser and overbending around the ends of the clamp can be a problem. It is therefore often a requirement to build the clamps with bending stiffeners, bellmouths or bending restrictors fitted.