Chain Out of Plane Bending (OPB) Fatigue Joint Industry Project (JIP) FEA Results and Multiaxiality Study Results

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucile Rampi ◽  
Andre Bignonnet ◽  
Cedric Le Cunff ◽  
Francois Bourgin ◽  
Pedro Vargas
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Loading ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Small Time ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
Bending Stresses ◽  
Plane Bending ◽  
Mooring Chain ◽  
Fatigue Mechanism

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 computational Finite Element Analysis (FEA) scope of work that provided the understanding and validation of the OPB mechanism through correlation with the test program results on chains. In addition, a multiaxial assessment of the fatigue stresses is studied and the main results are presented in this paper.

Chain Out of Plane Bending (OPB) Fatigue Joint Industry Project (JIP) Static Test Program and OPB Interlink Stiffness

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucile Rampi ◽  
Fata Dewi ◽  
Michel Francois ◽  
Arnaud Gerthoffert ◽  
Pedro Vargas
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Loading ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Small Time ◽  
Static Test ◽  
Fatigue Design ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
Bending Stresses ◽  
Plane Bending ◽  
Mooring Chain ◽  
Fatigue Mechanism

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.

Chain Out of Plane Bending (OPB) Fatigue Joint Industry Project (JIP) Fatigue Test Program Results and Methodology

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucile Rampi ◽  
Arnaud Gerthoffert ◽  
Michel Francois ◽  
Andre Bignonnet ◽  
Pedro Vargas
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Influence ◽  
Small Time ◽  
Multiaxial Fatigue ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Major Step ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
Plane Bending ◽  
Offshore Industry ◽  
Mooring Chain ◽  
Fatigue Mechanism

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 OPB mooring chain fatigue mechanism and to propose mooring chain fatigue design recommendations. This paper summarizes the full scale fatigue tests on chains and also the tests on small samples addressing the environmental influence on fatigue initiation and crack propagation stages. This paper also addresses the major step that was achieved: the implementation of a multiaxial fatigue criterion to address OPB hotspots as a standard practice in offshore industry. Moreover, the paper presents the first Industry OPB based S-N curves and its comparison to the existing industry fatigue S-N curve. Lastly, this paper provides a summary of the main steps in a framework for OPB fatigue calculation guidelines.

Out-of-Plane Bending Testing of Chain Links

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecil Melis ◽  
Phillipe Jean ◽  
Pedro Vargas
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Relationship ◽  
Chain Link ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
Bending Stresses ◽  
Test Frame ◽  
Scale Test ◽  
Plane Bending ◽  
A Chain ◽  
Chain Links ◽  
Mooring Chain

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.

Fracture mechanics analysis for mooring chain links subjected to out-of-plane bending (OPB)

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 102740
Author(s):  
Xutian Xue ◽  
Nian-Zhong Chen ◽  
Yongchang Pu ◽  
Xifeng Gao
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Mechanics Analysis ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
Plane Bending ◽  
Chain Links ◽  
Mooring Chain

Random Seismic Response Analysis of Leaning-Type Arch Bridge

2011 ◽  
Vol 378-379 ◽  
pp. 332-336
Author(s):  
Yong He Li ◽  
Ai Rong Liu ◽  
Qi Cai Yu ◽  
Pan Tang ◽  
Fang Jie Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Bending Moment ◽  
Internal Force ◽  
Response Analysis ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Arch Bridge ◽  
Space Truss ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
Plane Bending ◽  
The Impact

With an example of steel pipe concrete leaning-type arch bridge, space truss system Finite Element Analysis model is constructed using the Ruiz-Penzien random seismic vibration power spectrum model. The impact of inclined arch rib angle and the number of cross brace between main and stable arch ribs on the seismic internal force response under lateral random seismic excitation is also studied in this research. Research finding shows, the in-plane bending moment of main arch rib gradually increases with increasing stable arch rib angle and cross brace, whereas the out-of-plane bending moment and axial force display a decreasing trend. In general, this indicates that increasing stable arch rib angle and number of cross brace improves the lateral aseismatic performance of leaning-type arch bridge.

Mooring Fatigue Assessment Evaluating Chain Twist and Out-of-Plane Bending for a Semi-submersible

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xutian Xue ◽  
Nian-Zhong Chen ◽  
Yongchang Pu
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Safety Factors ◽  
Fatigue Assessment ◽  
Pure Tension ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
Plane Bending ◽  
Chain Links ◽  
Mooring Chain

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.

Fatigue Testing of Out-of-Plane Bending Mechanism of Chain Links

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucile Rampi ◽  
Pedro Vargas
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Testing ◽  
Empirical Relationship ◽  
Fatigue Tests ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Fatigue Performance ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
Plane Bending ◽  
Chain Links ◽  
Mooring Chain

Three years ago, 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 (See Figure 1). This recently identified phenomena, Out-of-Plane Bending (OPB), explains the extensive fatigue damage causing the mooring chains of the off-loading buoy to fail [3][4][5]. References [3] and [4] document full scale tests of the OPB mechanism using a full scale test frame with the ability of applying inter-link rotation to a pre-tensioned chain. This testing confirmed that interlink rotations with a constant tension load can result in significantly high stresses. OPB stresses were measured on four different chain sizes of various grades: 1) 81 mm Studded Grade R3S, 2) 107 mm Stud-less Grade RQ3, 3) 124 mm Stud-less Grade R4, and 4) 146 mm Stud-less Grade RQ4, Grade R3 in [3] and [4], but no actual fatigue tests were performed. References [3] and [5] document analytical and computational efforts to explain and quantify the OPB stresses. In this paper, special focus is placed on obtaining actual fatigue failures of chains from OPB loading. Smaller chain sizes (40 mm) are used to accommodate the load limits of the testing frame. To mimic the actual loading as close as possible, sub size models of actual chainhawses were used in the testing. Two chainhawses were used: 1) the chainhawse has internal curvature where a link rests on the intrados, similar to offloading buoy that failed in eight months, and 2) a straight chainhase, a design that is in use today with demonstrated improved fatigue performance over the curved chainhawse. OPB stresses are measured and reported. Fatigue loading in the OPB mode was applied for several configurations. The two chainhawse exhibit very different stress levels and fatigue performance. An empirical relationship previously reported in [3][4][5] is compared to the measured OPB stresses with mixed results. Although limited in number, the fatigue tests indicate that overall the chain fatigue performance is at or above the B1 DnV curve. The BS B1 curve is also compared.

An Application of Two Step Stress Classification Approach (Primary Structure Method) for Stress Classification at Cylindrical Shell–Nozzle Intersections Subjected to Internal Pressure, Radial Load and In- and Out-of-Plane Bending Moments

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anindya Bhattacharya ◽  
Sachin Bapat ◽  
Hardik Patel ◽  
Shailan Patel
Keyword(s):  
Primary Structure ◽  
Applied Load ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Primary Stress ◽  
Stress Classification ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
Bending Stresses ◽  
Work Done ◽  
Simple Stress

Stress classification at shell and nozzle interface had always been an interesting and challenging problem for Engineers. Basic shell theory analyses shell stresses as membrane with local bending stresses developed at locations of discontinuity and load applications. Since in a shell structure, bending stresses develop to mainly maintain compatibility of deformation and membrane stresses to equilibrate the applied load, a simple stress classification will be to categorize the bending stresses as secondary stresses. This is because by definition, secondary stresses develop to maintain compatibility of deformation and primary stresses develop to maintain equilibrium with the applied load. This simplified analysis can result in errors as in real world 100% primary stress as well as 100% secondary stress is rare if not impossible [15], [16]. The widespread use of Finite Element Analysis has made this problem become even more challenging. Several researchers have addressed the problems of stress classification. References [1], [2], [3], [4], [5[, [6], [11], [12] can be consulted for additional details. In this paper the work done by Chen and Li [1], using the two step primary structure method has been used to analyse the problem of stress classification of a shell and nozzle. The spirit of the method has been retained, but several FE models have been made with some deviations from the method in ref.[1], to meaningfully arrive at primary structures.

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