The spooling-on phase of the reeling process was simulated by small scale bending testing to prepare for the full scale bending testing. It was necessary to be aware of how the bending tests (small scale and full scale) resembled the spooling-on phase and how the bending tests differed from the actual spooling-on process. It needed to be determined whether these differences could be neglected or how they could be accounted for. When comparing actual reeling with simulation of reeling in a bending rig (small scale and full scale), several differences were identified:1. During actual reeling the reaction force of the reel on the pipeline (Freel;T;P) is in equilibrium with the perpendicular force in the tensioner (FT;P in Figure 5.3) and the reaction force of the reel on the pipeline is small due to a large distance between the reel and the tensioner. In the bending rig the reaction force of the reel on the pipe (Freel;HC;P) was in equilibrium with the perpendicular component of the hydraulic cylinder force (FHC;P in Figure 5.8) and the reaction force of the reel on the pipe was relatively large due to the relatively small distance between the reel and the hydraulic cylinder.2. During actual reeling the reaction force of the reel on the pipeline (Freel;T;P) is constant because of the fixed distance between the tensioners and reel on board of the reeling vessel. In the bending rig the reaction force of the reel on the pipe (Freel;HC;P) was not constant in value. This reaction force of the reel on the pipe increased as more pipe became in contact with the reel and the distance between the reel and the hydraulic cylinder decreased.3. During actual reeling, the tension force in the pipeline delivered by the tensioners (FT;A in Figure 5.3) is constant. In the bending rig the tension force in the pipe caused by the axial component of the hydraulic cylinder (FHC;A) was increasing in value throughout the test due to the increasing hydraulic cylinder force and the changing orientation of the hydraulic cylinder (Figure 5.8).4. During actual reeling a pipeline with welds is being reeled while in the small scale reeling test only pipes without a weld were reeled. However, in the full scale bending rig pipes with a weld were reeled (Chapter 6 and 7).