Pipeline Survey Scheduling Through Structural Reliability Analysis

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Espiner ◽  
Alan M. Edwards ◽  
Andrew Francis
Keyword(s):  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Probability Of Failure ◽  
Acceptable Level ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Offshore Pipelines ◽  
Probability Of Occurrence ◽  
Offshore Pipeline ◽  
Safety And Reliability ◽  
Survey Strategy

In order to reduce the risks associated with the occurrence of free spans, offshore pipelines are subject to external survey on a periodic basis. The true impact of this strategy on safety and reliability is generally unknown. This paper describes a structural reliability-based assessment that was carried out to investigate the probability of failure of an offshore pipeline due to the presence of free spans and develop a survey strategy that ensures a quantified and acceptable level of reliability. The probabilities of failure of free spans of varying lengths are evaluated using a structural reliability based approach. Then, the probability of occurrence of free spans as a function of time is evaluated in order to quantify the overall time-dependent reliability of the pipeline. Finally, the influence of the survey frequency is investigated. The outcome of the study is a recommended strategy for future surveys of the pipeline.

scholarly journals Time-Dependent Reliability Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Beams Subjected to Uniform and Pitting Corrosion and Brittle Fracture

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1820
Author(s):  
Mohamed El Amine Ben Seghier ◽  
Behrooz Keshtegar ◽  
Hussam Mahmoud
Keyword(s):  
Reinforced Concrete ◽  
Brittle Fracture ◽  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Pitting Corrosion ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
State Function ◽  
Rc Beams ◽  
Highly Nonlinear ◽  
Reliability Method

Reinforced concrete (RC) beams are basic elements used in the construction of various structures and infrastructural systems. When exposed to harsh environmental conditions, the integrity of RC beams could be compromised as a result of various deterioration mechanisms. One of the most common deterioration mechanisms is the formation of different types of corrosion in the steel reinforcements of the beams, which could impact the overall reliability of the beam. Existing classical reliability analysis methods have shown unstable results when used for the assessment of highly nonlinear problems, such as corroded RC beams. To that end, the main purpose of this paper is to explore the use of a structural reliability method for the multi-state assessment of corroded RC beams. To do so, an improved reliability method, namely the three-term conjugate map (TCM) based on the first order reliability method (FORM), is used. The application of the TCM method to identify the multi-state failure of RC beams is validated against various well-known structural reliability-based FORM formulations. The limit state function (LSF) for corroded RC beams is formulated in accordance with two corrosion types, namely uniform and pitting corrosion, and with consideration of brittle fracture due to the pit-to-crack transition probability. The time-dependent reliability analyses conducted in this study are also used to assess the influence of various parameters on the resulting failure probability of the corroded beams. The results show that the nominal bar diameter, corrosion initiation rate, and the external loads have an important influence on the safety of these structures. In addition, the proposed method is shown to outperform other reliability-based FORM formulations in predicting the level of reliability in RC beams.

The Research on Time-Dependent Reliability Analysis for RC Structures Based on the Theory of Stochastic Processes

2011 ◽  
Vol 243-249 ◽  
pp. 5650-5655
Author(s):  
Cheng Yu Xia ◽  
Qing You Liu ◽  
Li Qin Qian
Keyword(s):  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Rc Structures ◽  
Calculating Method ◽  
Specific Analysis ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Compression Member ◽  
Strong Ability

This paper proposes a new calculating method for the reliability analysis of the time-varying structure，and applies the calculating method to optimize the design for the concrete structure . The RC compression member was taken as an example in the specific analysis in by the mean of resistance and structural reliability with time t. The results show that, this mode has a strong ability of analyzing adequately all kinds of random variant in procedure of structure failures.

Adjusting Environmental Contours for Specified Expected Number of Unwanted Events

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Vanem
Keyword(s):  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Return Period ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Probability Of Failure ◽  
Expected Number ◽  
Probability Of Exceedance ◽  
Underlying Distribution ◽  
Extreme Loads ◽  
Time Period

Abstract Environmental contours are applied in probabilistic structural reliability analysis to identify extreme environmental conditions that may give rise to extreme loads and responses. Typically, they are constructed to correspond to a certain return period and a probability of exceedance with regards to the environmental conditions that can again be related to the probability of failure of a structure. Thus, they describe events with a certain probability of being exceeded one or more times during a certain time period, which can be found from a certain percentile of the underlying distribution. In this paper, various ways of adjusting such environmental contours to account for the expected number of exceedances within a certain time period are discussed. Depending on how such criteria are defined, one may get more lenient or more stringent criteria compared to the classical return period.

Wellhead Fatigue Analysis Method: Benefits of a Structural Reliability Analysis Approach

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torfinn Hørte ◽  
Lorents Reinås ◽  
Jan Mathisen
Keyword(s):  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Probability Of Failure ◽  
Fatigue Analysis ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Inspection Planning ◽  
Structural Reliability Analysis ◽  
Extreme Load ◽  
Input Parameters

Structural Reliability Analysis (SRA) methods have been applied to marine and offshore structures for decades. SRA has proven useful in life extension exercises and inspection planning of existing offshore structures. It is also a useful tool in code development, where the reliability level provided by the code is calibrated to a target failure probability obtained by SRA. This applies both to extreme load situations and also to a structural system under the influence of a time dependent degradation process such as fatigue. The current analysis methods suggested for service life estimation of subsea wells are deterministic, and these analyses are associated with high sensitivity to variations in input parameters. Thus sensitivity screening is often recommended for certain input parameters, and the worst case is then typically used as a basis for the analysis. The associated level of conservatism embedded in results from a deterministic analysis is not quantified, and it is therefore difficult to know and to justify if unnecessary conservatism can be removed from the calculations. By applying SRA to a wellhead fatigue analysis, the input parameters are accounted for with their associated uncertainty given by probability distributions. Analysis results can be generated by use of Monte-Carlo simulations or FORM/SORM (first/second order reliability methods), accounting for the full scatter of system relations and input variations. The level of conservatism can then be quantified and evaluated versus an acceptable probability of failure. This article presents results from a SRA of a fictitious but still realistic well model, including the main assumptions that were made, and discusses how SRA can be applied to a wellhead fatigue analysis. Global load analyses and local stress calculations were carried out prior to the SRA, and a response surface technique was used to interpolate on these results. This analysis has been limited to two hotspots located in each of the two main load bearing members of the wellhead system. The SRA provides a probability of failure estimate that may be used to give better decision support in the event of life extension of existing subsea wells. In addition, a relative uncertainty ranking of input variables provides insight into the problem and knowledge about where risk reducing efforts should be made to reduce the uncertainty. It should be noted that most attention has been given to the method development, and that more comprehensive analysis work and assessment of specific input is needed in a real case.

Time-Dependent System Reliability Analysis Using Random Field Discretization

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Hu ◽  
Sankaran Mahadevan
Keyword(s):  
Random Field ◽  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
System Reliability ◽  
Probability Of Failure ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
System Reliability Analysis ◽  
Reliability Method ◽  
Time Dependent System

This paper proposes a novel and efficient methodology for time-dependent system reliability analysis of systems with multiple limit-state functions of random variables, stochastic processes, and time. Since there are correlations and variations between components and over time, the overall system is formulated as a random field with two dimensions: component index and time. To overcome the difficulties in modeling the two-dimensional random field, an equivalent Gaussian random field is constructed based on the probability equivalency between the two random fields. The first-order reliability method (FORM) is employed to obtain important features of the equivalent random field. By generating samples from the equivalent random field, the time-dependent system reliability is estimated from Boolean functions defined according to the system topology. Using one system reliability analysis, the proposed method can get not only the entire time-dependent system probability of failure curve up to a time interval of interest but also two other important outputs, namely, the time-dependent probability of failure of individual components and dominant failure sequences. Three examples featuring series, parallel, and combined systems are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics Structural Reliability Analysis of Reeled Pipes

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo A. Ernst ◽  
Ricardo Schifini ◽  
Richard E. Bravo ◽  
Diego N. Passarella ◽  
Federico Daguerre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Crack Size ◽  
Probability Of Failure ◽  
Statistical Distribution ◽  
Assessment Procedure ◽  
Statistical Distributions ◽  
Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Structural Reliability Analysis

Structural integrity analyses are used to guarantee the reliability of critical engineering components under certain conditions of interest. In general, the involved parameters have statistical distributions. Choosing a single set of values for the parameters of interest does not show the real statistical distribution of the output parameters. In particular, offshore pipes installation by reeling is a matter of concern due to the severe conditions of the process. Since it is necessary to guarantee the integrity of the pipes, a probabilistic fracture mechanics reliability analysis seems to be the most adequate approach. In this work, a probabilistic fracture mechanics assessment approach to perform the structural reliability analysis of tubes subjected to a reeling process was developed. This procedure takes into account the statistical distributions of the material properties and pipe geometry, using a fracture mechanics approach and the Monte Carlo method. Two-parameter Weibull distributions were used to model the variability of the input parameters. The assessment procedure was implemented as a self-contained executable program. The program outputs are: the statistical distribution of critical crack size, amount of crack extension, final crack size and the cumulative probability of failure for a given crack size. A particular case of interest was studied; a seamless tube - OD 323.9 × wt 14.3 mm, was analyzed. Tolerable defect size limits (defect depth vs. defect length curves) for different probability of failure levels were obtained. A sensitivity analysis was performed; the effect of material fracture toughness and misalignment was studied.

scholarly journals DEVELOPED PROBABILISTIC REDUCTION FACTORS FOR LOPHIRA ALATA (EKKI) TIMBER JOISTS SUBJECTED TO CREEP-RUPTURE

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-44
Author(s):  
JM Kaura ◽  
A Lawan ◽  
AA Salihu
Keyword(s):  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Significant Loss ◽  
Creep Rupture ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Load Duration ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Reliability Method ◽  
Load Carrying ◽  
Strength And Stiffness

Wood experiences a significant loss of strength and stiffness when loaded over period of time. This phenomenon is known as creep-rupture. Several models were developed for the estimation of the reduction of load carrying capacity of timber with time. In this paper, the results of time dependent structural reliability analysis of timber joist produced with Lophiraalata (Ekki) timber specie was presented. Three load duration models were considered in the study, namely: The Model proposed by Wood, Gerhards model, and Nielsen. The timber joist was designed in accordance with the Eurocode 5. The uncertainties in all the basic design variables were fully accommodated in the time dependent reliability analysis. The entire process was implemented using a developed MATLAB program employing First Order Reliability Method (FORM). Time dependent mathematical models for modification of safety index to account for the effect of load duration were proposed. The use of both Gerhards and Nielsen model, for the design of Lophiraalata timber members was recommended.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v36i1.6

Simulation of Vortex Induced Vibration Around Offshore Pipeline

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Yeganeh Bakhtiary ◽  
Abbas Ghaheri ◽  
Reza Valipour
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Field ◽  
Vortex Shedding ◽  
Hydrodynamic Force ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Offshore Structure ◽  
Offshore Pipelines ◽  
Vortex Induced Vibration ◽  
Offshore Pipeline ◽  
Turbulent Pressure

The flow around a pipeline laid on the uneven seabed causes Vortex Induced Vibration (VIV), which in turn increases significantly the potential of fatigue damage of a pipeline at the free span sections. In general, the Morison equation is employed for estimating the averaged hydrodynamic force acting on an offshore structure; however, to elaborate the vibration forces due to VIV effects, simulation of vortex shedding and its induced time dependent pressure and velocity distribution is very essential. In this paper, it is intended to provide a numerical model to simulate the VIV effects on the offshore pipelines, by calculating numerically the vortex shedding and its induced turbulent pressure and velocity field. Finally, the unsteady pattern of dynamic drag force is obtained by the model, which is constructed based on the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations in conjunction with a standard k–ε turbulence model for turbulence closure.

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