Seawater Corrosion Fatigue of Welded Joints Under Random Variable Amplitude Loading

- Offshore platforms are always subjected to wave action which is random variable amplitude cyclic loading. In order to simulate the stressing condition at the 'hot spot' of the tubular joints and the marine environment, random variable amplitude fatigue tests have been carried out on welded plate joints in sea water. The tests have been conducted under the conditions of loading frequency of 0.2 Hz, stress ratio of -1, seawater temperature of about 20℃ and cathodic protection with the potential about -850 mV, SCE. The test results have been compared with the seawater corrosion fatigue life under constant amplitude loading. Miner's linear cumulative damage summation rule has been used to predict the corrosion fatigue life under variable amplitude loading. The predicted life is in good agreement with the test data.     

Fatigue Behaviour of Tubular Joints Made of China-Made Platform Steel

In China, a nationwide research program on fatigue behaviour of tubular joints made of China-made platform steel was carried out from 1983 to 1990, which was set by the Tubular Joint Research Committee for Offshore Structures (TJCOS) of China. This paper gives an outline of the basic properties of the China-made platform steel and fatigue test of tubular joints, including test specimens, test particulars and test results. A p-S-N curve based on the test results was established which reveals that the fatigue strength of tubular joints is fairly good. The thickness effect and effect of corrosion on fatigue strength in sea water are briefly discussed.     

The Stress Concentration of Multiplanar Tubular Joints of Offshore Structure

- The formulation for the stress concentration matrix of multiplanar tubular joint with braces subjected to combined load is established in this paper. The formulations for SCF values of multiplanar tubular joints are compared with those by Wordsworth and Efthymiou. The stiffening effect and load-interaction effect are discussed. A spatial offshore jacket with braces subjected to combined load is computed as a numerical example. The maximum stress of each multiplanar tubular joint and its location are found through SCF matrix. Finally, the difference between the maximum stresses of multiplanar tubular joints and their corresponding uniplanar tubular joints are discussed.     

建立海洋平台管节点PSN曲线的贝叶斯方法

针对管节点疲劳试验的小样本特点,探讨了建立ＰＳＮ 曲线的贝叶斯方法。在贝叶斯方法中,ＰＳＮ曲线的统计参数作为随机变量处理,首先根据贝叶斯定理求出参数向量的后验概率密度,然后建立ＰＳＮ曲线的贝叶斯方程,最后再编程计算。算例表明,与传统的ＰＳＮ 曲线相比,贝叶斯ＰＳＮ 曲线更加安全可靠     

Regression Formulations for the Stress at Hot Spot of Multiplanar Tubular DT Joints

- Stress concentration analysis of multiplanar tubular DT joints plays an important role in the fatigue design of offshore platforms. A semi-analytic method for stress analysis under the condition of any loads is briefly introduced in the paper. Nineteen multiplanar tubular DT joints with one of two braces of the same dimension subjected to axial loads and out- of- plane bending moments are computed for parametric stress analysis by using the present method. The influence of geometrical parameters on the stresses of multiplanar tubular DT joints is discussed and compared with corresponding uniplanar T joints. The regression formulae for the stress at hot spot of multiplanar DT joints are found by modification of SCF of corresponding uniplanar T joints. The parametric formulae for the maximum stress by superposition. Finally, the influences of stiffening effect and load-interaction effect on the maximum stress of DT joints are discussed.     

Prediction of Static Strength of Tubular T and X Joints Subjected to Axial Compression

-The formulation of ring analogy method for the prediction of static strength (ductile collapse) of tubular T, X joints under axial compression based on the limit analysis of the ring with some assumptions is presented in this papaer. The regression formula for the effective length of the chord based on test results is established by means of the least square method. The results computed by the present semi-analytic formula are compared with previous results and test data. They are quite close to each other. The accuracy of the present formula depends on the reasonable selection of the effective length of the chord, which requires numerous test data.     

Investigation of Allowable Stresses for Fatigue Design of Fixed Offshore Platforms

Fatigue design method is usually used for estimating whether a platform structure meets the requirements of fatigue resistance. It is described in API RP-2A and ZC rules for fixed offshore platforms, in which the allowable stresses for fatigue design are defined. In this paper discussed are the allowable stresses related factors, such as wave climate, structural response, fatigue behaviour of structural members.     

Monte-Carlo Simulation of Surface Crack Growth Rate for Offshore Structural Steel E36 Z35

—The Monte-Carlo method is used to simulate the surface fatigue crack growth rate foroffshore structural steel E36-Z35,and to determine the distributions and relevance of the parameters in theParis equation.By this method,the time and cost of fatigue crack propagation testing can be reduced.Theapplication of the method is demonstrated by use of four sets of fatigue crack propagation data foroffshore structural steel E36-Z35.A comparison of the test data with the theoretical prediction for surfacecrack growth rate shows the application of the simulation method to the fatigue crack propagation tests issuccessful.     

An Improved Formulation for the Ultimate Static Strength of Tubular Joints subjected to Combined Loads

"The effect of interaction of loads on the ultimate static strength of tubular joints of offshore fixed platforms, is a practical problem. But there is still absence of rigorous theory to explain available experimental data and empirical criteria for the static strength of tubular joints. The idea of yield at hot spot of tubular joints is introduced in this paper. The interaction equations of plastic capacity for the tubular joints under combined loads (two and three different kinds) are derived. Thereafter the Yura's test data and empirical criteria of ultimate static strength for the tubular joints can be explained. The idea of classification of category of loads in accordance with experimental data and the present theory is suggested. Finally, the improved ultimate capacity equations for tubular joints are recommended. The physical significance of the coefficient of plastic reservation Qp is discussed.     

新型多柱桁架式Spar平台疲劳寿命分析

利用谱分析方法对新型多柱桁架式Spar平台的关键点进行了疲劳寿命分析计算.首先建立平台的有限元计算模型,并在频域内进行动力分析;然后利用热点应力法求出关键点应力传递函数,根据应力传递函数得到每个短期海况的应力谱和应力谱参数;最后采用Miner线性累积损伤准则计算出关键点的疲劳寿命,计算结果表明关键点疲劳寿命符合规范要求.     

Generation and Application of A Standardized Load-Time History to Tubular T-joints in Offshore Platforms

Marine structures are mostly made of metals and always experience complex random loading during their service periods. The fatigue crack growth behaviors of metal materials have been proved from laboratory tests to be sensitive to the loading sequence encountered. In order to take account of the loading sequence effect, fatigue life prediction should be based on fatigue crack propagation (FCP) theory rather than the currently used cumulative fatigue damage (CFD) theory. A unified fatigue life prediction (UFLP) method for marine structures has been proposed by the authors’ group. In order to apply the UFLP method for newly designed structures, authorities such as the classification societies should provide a standardized load-time history (SLH) such as the TWIST and FALSTAFF sequences for transport and fighter aircraft. This paper mainly aims at proposing a procedure to generate the SLHs for marine structures based on a short-term loading sample and to provide an illustration on how to use the presented SLH to a typical tubular T-joint in an offshore platform based on the UFLP method.     

An Integrated Approach to Fatigue Life Prediction of Whole System for Offshore Platforms

The failure of one or even more components usually does not lead to the collapse of the whole structure. Most of the analysis of fatigue is centered on only a single component which the researchers are interested in or much attention should be paid to. However, the collapse of a structure is the result of failure of a series of components in a specific order or path. This paper proposes an integrated approach to fatigue life prediction of whole structural system for offshore platforms, mainly describing the basic principles and prediction method. A method is presented for determining the failure path of the whole structure system and calculating the fatigue life in the determined failure path. The corresponding final collapse criteria for the whole structure system are discussed. A simple method of equivalent fatigue stress range calculation and a mathematical model of structural component fatigue life estimation in consideration of sea wave and sea ice loads are provided. As an application of the propo     

Fatigue Crack Propagation in Steel A131 Under Ice Loading of Crushing,Bending and Buckling

Three types of ice loading, which are most commonly present when ice acts on structures, are chosen and simulated for use of fatigue crack propagation tests on offshore structural steel A131. The three types of ice categorized in accordance with the failure modes when acting on structures called crushing ice, bending ice, and buckling ice, respectively. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the fatigue crack propagation behavior of widely used high strength steel A131 for offshore jackets in the loading environment of ice crushing, bending, and buckling. The test results of fatigue crack propagation in steel A131 under these simulated ice loading at temperature 292K. are presented and analyzed in detail in this paper. The amplitude root mean square stress intensity factor is optimized to be the fundamental parameter of fatigue crack propagation for all types of ice loading histories. The results are also compared with constant amplitude fatigue crack propagation conclusions as in wave loa     

Assessment of Fatigue Strength of An Offshore Floating Production and Storage Unit

The procedure of assessment of structural fatigue strength of an offshore floating production and storage and offloading unit(FPSO) in this paper. The emphasis is placed on the long-term prediction of wave induced loading, the refined finite element model for hot spot stress calculation, the combination of stress components, and fatigue damage assessment based on S-N curve.     

半潜平台立柱与浮筒中部不同形式连接节点疲劳寿命分析

为了研究半潜式平台的立柱与浮筒中纵舱壁连接节点出现焊缝开裂这种疲劳失效现象,利用简化疲劳方法以及三维细化有限元模型,对目前主流平台中所采用两种不同的立柱与浮筒中纵舱壁连接节点形式进行了疲劳寿命评估与分析。首先从结构刚度分配角度,平均应力效应角度分析疲劳裂纹产生的原因;然后利用疲劳分析结果评估不同连接节点对整个平台结构可靠性的影响;最后,基于结构力学性能和刚度匹配角度分析两种节点形式的优劣,确定最优节点设计方案。