A method comprising: positioning a strongback apparatus on a first tubular structure, wherein the first tubular structure is coupled to a second tubular structure, and wherein the strongback apparatus comprises: an arcuate central body comprising a front end, a rear end, and a plurality of elongated members that connect the front end to the rear end, and a plurality of actuators pivotably mounted to the plurality of elongated members, wherein the plurality of actuators are configured to move in a radially outward direction and comprise (i) proximal ends pivotably mounted to the plurality of elongated members and (ii) distal ends having vacuum suction cups; operating a vacuum source to engage the vacuum suction cups of the plurality of actuators with the first tubular structure; while the vacuum suction cups of the plurality of actuators are engaged with the first tubular structure, controlling the plurality of actuators to pull the first tubular structure away from the second tubular structure in the radially outward direction; and while pulling the first tubular structure away from the second tubular structure in the radially outward direction, decoupling, with the strongback apparatus, the first tubular structure from the second tubular structure, further comprising: positioning a second strongback apparatus on the first tubular structure, wherein the second strongback apparatus comprises: a second arcuate central body comprising a second front end, a second rear end, and a second plurality of elongated members that connect the second front end to the second rear end, and a second plurality of actuators pivotably mounted to the second plurality of elongated members, wherein the second plurality of actuators are configured to move in a radially outward direction and comprise (i) second proximal ends pivotably mounted to the second plurality of elongated members and (ii) second distal ends having second vacuum suction cups; and further comprising: after positioning the second strongback apparatus on the first tubular structure, longitudinally bisecting the first tubular structure into a first section and a second section, wherein the first section and the second section thereafter remain coupled to the second tubular structure. an arcuate central body comprising a front end, a rear end, and a plurality of elongated members that connect the front end to the rear end, and a plurality of actuators pivotably mounted to the plurality of elongated members, wherein the plurality of actuators are configured to move in a radially outward direction and comprise (i) proximal ends pivotably mounted to the plurality of elongated members and (ii) distal ends having vacuum suction cups; operating a vacuum source to engage the vacuum suction cups of the plurality of actuators with the first tubular structure; while the vacuum suction cups of the plurality of actuators are engaged with the first tubular structure, controlling the plurality of actuators to pull the first tubular structure away from the second tubular structure in the radially outward direction; and while pulling the first tubular structure away from the second tubular structure in the radially outward direction, decoupling, with the strongback apparatus, the first tubular structure from the second tubular structure, further comprising: positioning a second strongback apparatus on the first tubular structure, wherein the second strongback apparatus comprises: a second arcuate central body comprising a second front end, a second rear end, and a second plurality of elongated members that connect the second front end to the second rear end, and a second plurality of actuators pivotably mounted to the second plurality of elongated members, wherein the second plurality of actuators are configured to move in a radially outward direction and comprise (i) second proximal ends pivotably mounted to the second plurality of elongated members and (ii) second distal ends having second vacuum suction cups; and further comprising: after positioning the second strongback apparatus on the first tubular structure, longitudinally bisecting the first tubular structure into a first section and a second section, wherein the first section and the second section thereafter remain coupled to the second tubular structure.