FEA of Out-of-Plane Fatigue Mechanism of Chain Links

Author(s):  
Pedro Vargas ◽  
Philippe Jean

Several mooring chains of an off-loading buoy failed after only 8 months of service. These chains were designed according to conventional fatigue assessment using API RP 2SK T-N curves to a fatigue life of 20 years with a factor of safety equal to 3 on life. Of particular interest is that the mooring chain failure underwent significant mooring chain motions that caused interlink rotations. Although traditionally neglected, these interlink rotations, when combined with significant chain tensions can cause bending stresses in the chain links. In this paper we identify a mechanism, here identified as Out-of-Plane Bending (OPB) that explains the extensive fatigue damage causing the mooring chains of the off-loading buoy to fail. A previous paper [4] presented experimental results of applying inter-link rotation to a pre-tensioned chain. Various pretension levels were used, with instrumentation to extract link angles and chain link stresses. In this paper, the physics of the OPB mechanism is examined through finite element models of the 124mm chain link tests. The various modes of interlink rotation are examined. The proof loading procedure that the chain undergoes at manufacture is identified as a likely cause for creating a tightly mated surface that is conducive to activating the OPB mechanism. To comply with Single Buoy Moorings (SBM) requirements addressing publication of internal research, many of the graphs included in this paper have had the stress values removed from the y-axis. However, with SBM’s management approval, some numerical references to stress amplitudes remain in the text. Overall, this limitation does not detract from the study, trends are evident and relevant comparisons can be made.

Author(s):  
Cecil Melis ◽  
Phillipe Jean ◽  
Pedro Vargas

Several mooring chains of an off-loading buoy failed after only 8 months of service. These chains were designed according to conventional fatigue assessment using API RP 2SK T-N curves to a fatigue life or 20 years with a factor of safety equal to 3 on life. Of particular interest is that the mooring chain failure underwent significant mooring chain motions that caused interlink rotations. Although traditionally neglected, these interlink rotations, when combined with significant chain tensions can cause bending stresses in the chain links. In this paper we identify a mechanism, here identified as Out-of-Plane Bending (OPB) that explains the extensive fatigue damage causing the mooring chains of the off-loading buoy to fail. A full scale test frame was constructed that has the capacity of applying inter-link rotation to a pre-tensioned chain. Although the test frame limits the number of links that can be tested together as a chain, a significant amount of testing was performed for the following chain sizes: 1. 81 mm Studded Grade R3S. 2. 107 mm Studdless Grade RQ3. 3. 124 mm Studless Grade R4. 4. 146 mm Studless Grade RQ4. Various pretension levels were used, with instrumentation to extract link angles and chain link stresses. In this paper the OPB mechanism is explained, and the test frame and results are presented. An empirical relationship is found to predict the OPB stresses in the chain links as a function of pretension and inter-link rotation. The OPB stress relationship obtained was applied to the failed mooring chain of the off-loading buoy with reasonable agreement. To comply with Single Buoy Moorings (SBM) requirements addressing publication of internal research, many of the graphs included in this paper have had the stress values removed from the y-axis. However, with SBM’s management approval, some numerical references to stress amplitudes remain in the text. Overall, this limitation does not detract from the study, trends are evident and relevant comparisons can be made.


Author(s):  
Gary H. Farrow ◽  
Andrew E. Potts ◽  
Andrew A. Kilner ◽  
Phillip P. Kurts ◽  
Simon Dimopoulos ◽  
...  

Abstract The first phase of the Chain FEARS (Finite Element Analysis of Residual Strength) Joint Industry Project (JIP) aimed to develop guidance for the determination of a rational discard criteria for mooring chains subject to severe pitting corrosion which, based on current code requirements, would otherwise require immediate removal and replacement. Critical to the ability to evaluate the residual fatigue life of a degraded chain, is to have an accurate estimate of the chain in its as-new condition, thereby providing a benchmark for any loss in fatigue life associated with severe corrosion or wear. A large collection of fatigue test data was collated for comparison and to establish underlying trends in as-new mooring chain fatigue response. A non-linear multi-axial Finite Element Analysis (FEA) fatigue assessment method was developed to correlate against available as-new chain link fatigue test data and underlying failure trends as part of the JIP achieving this critical requirement. It was established that the linear FEA fatigue method currently employed in the industry is too simplistic and does not correlate with the fatigue test data, whereas an alternative method of assessing fatigue based on FEA, developed with respect to the DNV B1 material curve, correlates well with the available physical fatigue test data. The FEA method uses a non-linear chain link FEA and multi-axial stress fatigue calculation method to determine an equivalent Stress Magnification Factor (SMF). This method achieves good correlation of predicted utilisations and associated cycles-to-failure with fatigue test data and in respect of critical locations with evidenced failure locations. The method of equivalent SMF calculation accounted for the significant effects on fatigue performance including proof load induced residual stress, mean stress levels and the increase in material fatigue endurance associated with increased steel UTS (i.e. increased offshore mooring chain grade). The analytical method developed in this study achieved a high degree of correlation with as-new chain fatigue test data, and should enable the accurate prediction of fatigue stresses around a link and in particular for irregular geometry associated with corrosion degraded chain links.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-136
Author(s):  
Roberto Spagnuolo

Abstract The stability check of masonry structures is a debated problem in Italy that poses serious problems for its extensive use. Indeed, the danger of out of plane collapse of masonry walls, which is one of the more challenging to evaluate, is traditionally addressed not using finite element models (FEM). The power of FEM is not properly used and some simplified method are preferred. In this paper the use of the thrust surface is suggested. This concept allows to to evaluate the eccentricity of the membrane stresses using the FEM method. For this purpose a sophisticated, layered, finite element with a no-tension material is used. To model a no-tension material we used the smeared crack method as it is not mesh-dependent and it is well known since the early ’80 in an ASCE Report [1]. The described element has been implemented by the author in the program Nòlian by Softing.


Author(s):  
Lucile Rampi ◽  
Fata Dewi ◽  
Michel Francois ◽  
Arnaud Gerthoffert ◽  
Pedro Vargas

In 2002, several mooring chains of a deepwater offloading buoy failed prematurely within a very small time frame. These chains were designed according to conventional offshore fatigue assessment using API recommendations. With this first deepwater buoy application, a new mooring chain fatigue mechanism was discovered. High pretension levels combined with significant mooring chain motions caused interlink rotations that generated significant Out of Plane Bending (OPB) fatigue loading. Traditionally, interlink rotations are relatively harmless and generate low bending stresses in the chain links. The intimate mating contact that occurs due to the plastic deformation during the proof loading and the high pretension of the more contemporary mooring designs have been identified as aggravating factors for this phenomenon. A Joint Industry Project (JIP), gathering 26 different companies, was started in 2007 to better understand the Out of Plane Bending (OPB) mooring chain fatigue mechanism and to propose mooring chain fatigue design recommendations. This paper summarizes the quasi static OPB stiffness measurement campaign and the post processing work to derive the OPB interlink stiffness.


2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (04) ◽  
pp. 223-231
Author(s):  
J. C. Roberts ◽  
M. P. Boyle ◽  
P. D. Wienhold ◽  
E. E. Ward

Rectangular orthotropic glass fiber reinforced plastic sandwich panels were tested under uniform out-of-plane pressure and the strains and deflections were compared with those from finite-element models of the panels. The panels, with 0.32 cm (0.125 in.) face sheets and a 1.27 cm (0.5 in.)core of either balsa or linear polyvinylchloride foam, were tested in two sizes: 183 × 92 cm (72 × 36 in.) and121 × 92 cm (48 × 36 in.). The sandwich panels were fabricated using the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding technique. The two short edges of the sandwich panels were clamped, while the two long edges were simply supported. Uniform external pressure was applied using two large water inflatable bladders in series. The deflection and strains were measured using dial gages and strain gages placed at quarter and half points on the surface of the panels. Measurements were made up to a maximum out-of-plane pressure of 0.1 MPa (15psi). A total of six balsa core and six foam core panels were tested. Finite-element models were constructed for the 183-cm-long panel and the121-cm-long panel. Correlation between numerical and experimental strains to deflect the sandwich panel was much better on the top (tensile) side of the panels than on the bottom (compressive)side of the panels, regardless of panel aspect ratio or core material. All sandwich panels exhibited the same compressive strain reversal behavior on the compressive side of the panel. This phenomenon was thought to be due to nonlinearly induced micro-buckling under the strain gages, buckling of the woven fabric, or micro-cracking within the resin.


2020 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 102740
Author(s):  
Xutian Xue ◽  
Nian-Zhong Chen ◽  
Yongchang Pu ◽  
Xifeng Gao

Author(s):  
Mostafa Habibi ◽  
Ramin Hashemi ◽  
Ahmad Ghazanfari ◽  
Reza Naghdabadi ◽  
Ahmad Assempour

Forming limit diagram is often used as a criterion to predict necking initiation in sheet metal forming processes. In this study, the forming limit diagram was obtained through the inclusion of the Marciniak–Kaczynski model in the Nakazima out-of-plane test finite element model and also a flat model. The effect of bending on the forming limit diagram was investigated numerically and experimentally. Data required for this simulation were determined through a simple tension test in three directions. After comparing the results of the flat and Nakazima finite element models with the experimental results, the forming limit diagram computed by the Nakazima finite element model was more convenient with less than 10% at the lower level of the experimental forming limit diagram.


2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junyi Yi ◽  
Nigel G Shrive

Three-dimensional finite element models of unreinforced hollow concrete masonry walls with one-course bond beams subjected to concentrated loading have been analyzed. The walls were modelled with different loading plate sizes, different loading locations along the wall (at the midpoint of the wall, at the end of the wall, and between these points), and different out-of-plane eccentricities (e = 0, t/6, and t/3). The hollow block units, mortar, grout, and bond beam blocks in the walls were modelled separately. Both smeared and discrete cracking methods have been utilized for predicting cracking under load. Geometric and material nonlinearities and damage due to progressive cracking were taken into account in the analyses. The predicted failure modes and ultimate capacities of the walls with the concentric concentrated load applied at the midpoint or at the end of the wall compared very well with the experimental results. When the load was between the midpoint and the end of the wall, the predicted ultimate capacity was between those for the load at the midpoint and at the end. The strength of the walls decreases with increasing out-of-plane eccentricities.Key words: finite element models, hollow masonry, smeared and discrete cracking models, concentrated load, loading locations, out-of-plane eccentricities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xutian Xue ◽  
Nian-Zhong Chen ◽  
Yongchang Pu

Abstract A mooring fatigue assessment for mooring chain links of a semi-submersible in Offshore West Africa (OWA) is presented. Three cases that mooring chain links are subjected to pure tension, out-of-plane bending (OPB), and torque are considered in the assessment. For the case that mooring chain links are subjected to pure tension, a comparative study on S–N curves, T–N curves, and fracture mechanics (FM)-based mooring system fatigue analyses is made, and the results show that the fatigue lives predicted by these three approaches are generally comparable if the safety factors suggested by API and DNVGL are applied to T–N curves and S–N curves based approaches. For the cases that mooring chain links are subjected to the OPB and torque, the investigation shows that fatigue lives of mooring chain links are decreased significantly due to the OPB effects, while the decline of fatigue lives of mooring chain links happens when the twist angles are more than 10 deg.


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