scholarly journals Hybrid Finite Element Method Development for Offshore Structures’ Calculation with the Implementation of Industry Standards

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 90-100
Author(s):  
Jacek Łubiński ◽  
Henryk Olszewski

Abstract In the design process of offshore steel structures, it is typical to employ commercial calculation codes in which simulation and evaluation of results are performed on the basis of the available standards (e.g. API, DNV, Lloyds). The modeling and solution rely on finite element methods and cover the simulation of the structure’s properties along with the influence of the marine environment – sea currents, wave and wind loading, as well as the influence of vibrations, buoyancy and accompanying mass of water. Both commercial and open source mathematical modeling software which is available nowadays allows for cost effective and flexible implementation of advanced models for offshore industrial structures with high level of credibility and safety. The models can be built to suit task-specific requirements and evaluated on the basis of the selected criterial system best suited to the needs of the customer. Examples of methodology for environmental and structural model development are presented, along with simulation results covering a wide scope of data, ranging from stress and deformation to resonant characteristics and issues of technological feasibility.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Slocum ◽  
Kenneth Kamrin ◽  
Alexander Slocum

A force-limiting buckling flexure has been created which can be used in a wide range of applications where excessive force from an implement can cause harm or damage. The buckling flexure is monolithic, contains no electronics, and can be manufactured using a single shot in an injection molding machine, making it cost effective. In this paper, the design of the flexure is applied to a force-limiting toothbrush as a design study to show its application in a real-world technology. An overview of the buckling flexure is presented, and a structural model is presented to predict when the flexure will elastically buckle. Flexures of different geometries were tested and buckled. The data show that the model can predict buckling of the flexure with an error of 20.84%. A finite element model was also performed which predicts buckling of the flexure within an error of 25.35%. Furthermore, a preliminary model is presented which enables the design of the buckling beam’s displacement, such that the total breakaway deformation can be maximized, making sensing the sudden deformation easier to detect. As part of the application of the buckling flexure, an ergonomic, injection moldable toothbrush was created with the flexure built into the neck of the brush. When the user applies too much force while brushing, the flexure gives way and alerts the user when they have applied too much force; when the user lets off the force, the brush snaps back to its original shape. This design methodology is generalized and can be utilized in other force limited applications where an injection-moldable, pre-set force, and purely mechanical breakaway device is desired.


Author(s):  
Thorben Hamann ◽  
Torben Pichler ◽  
Jürgen Grabe

For the installation of offshore foundations several countries (e.g. Germany) require a proof of averting environmental disasters in case of ship collision. The aim is to prevent possible discharge of supplies or even loss of the vessel. Especially for gravity base foundations this load case is problematic due to their larger stiffness and mass compared to monopiles, tripods or jacket foundations. The finite element method provides a powerful tool to predict the collision behaviour in a realistic way taking into account the complex interaction between vessel, foundation and soil. The collision between a fully loaded single hull tanker and a gravity base foundation is subject of numerical analysis. The calculated contact forces between vessel and foundation are compared to a simplified calculation approach. For evaluation of the foundation deformations and areas of failure of the vessel are investigated. The influence of the water depth, the diameter of the foundation and an embedment in the seabed are determined in a parametric study. It can be shown that the finite element method is a suitable approach for investigation of the collision behaviour of offshore structures. The design of gravity base foundations can be optimized with respect to ship collision in a fast and cost-effective manner using this method.


Author(s):  
So-Yoon Kim ◽  
Ki-Sub Choi ◽  
Myung-Hyun Kim

Recently offshore installations for the development of gas and oil resources have moved toward the deeper sea and harsher environment. In this regard, there are increasing operational demands for offshore structures performing in depth with long distance transportation. Drill ships are one of the representative structures commonly employed for the development of energy resources in deep sea. However, these drilling systems are exposed to the various loadings and harsh environment. Therefore, current design code and standards are very conservative to take account of such conditions. The riser stanchions for the staking the riser are one of the structure that installed on the riser deck platform of drill ship. In transit or operating conditions, the riser load is applied to the stanchion. Therefore, the required strength of stanchion enough to withstand the riser loads and should be designed to meet owner and classification requirements. However, the currently practice design loads, which has been widely used in the shipyard and manufacture industries are too conservative resulting in excessive structural weight. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to propose a rational calculation procedure for the design of cost effective and lightweight stanchion structures. This study used a pyramid stacking type of arrangement for the investigation of the effects of stanchion by riser self-weight and hull acceleration. First, the riser loads based on the current conventional design practice is compared with the results obtained by non-linear finite element analysis. In the finite element simulation, contact and damping conditions of stacked risers are explicitly considered. Second, the calculation of riser loads in transverse direction is not easy due to the difficulty associated with considering transverse hull acceleration. Therefore, a new design guideline is presented in a strength calculation of the stanchion structure against to the estimated design loads.


The choice of cost-effective method of anticorrosive protection of steel structures is an urgent and time consuming task, considering the significant number of protection ways, differing from each other in the complex of technological, physical, chemical and economic characteristics. To reduce the complexity of solving this problem, the author proposes a computational tool that can be considered as a subsystem of computer-aided design and used at the stage of variant and detailed design of steel structures. As a criterion of the effectiveness of the anti-corrosion protection method, the cost of the protective coating during the service life is accepted. The analysis of existing methods of steel protection against corrosion is performed, the possibility of their use for the protection of the most common steel structures is established, as well as the estimated period of effective operation of the coating. The developed computational tool makes it possible to choose the best method of protection of steel structures against corrosion, taking into account the operating conditions of the protected structure and the possibility of using a protective coating.


2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 666-675
Author(s):  
Mihaela Tanase ◽  
Dan Florin Nitoi ◽  
Marina Melescanu Imre ◽  
Dorin Ionescu ◽  
Laura Raducu ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to determinate , using the Finite Element Analysis Method, the mechanical stress in a solid body , temporary molar restored with the self-curing GC material. The originality of our study consisted in using an accurate structural model and applying a concentrated force and a uniformly distributed pressure. Molar structure was meshed in a Solid Type 45 and the output data were obtained using the ANSYS software. The practical predictions can be made about the behavior of different restorations materials.


Author(s):  
Guang Zou ◽  
Kian Banisoleiman ◽  
Arturo González

A challenge in marine and offshore engineering is structural integrity management (SIM) of assets such as ships, offshore structures, mooring systems, etc. Due to harsh marine environments, fatigue cracking and corrosion present persistent threats to structural integrity. SIM for such assets is complicated because of a very large number of rewelded plates and joints, for which condition inspections and maintenance are difficult and expensive tasks. Marine SIM needs to take into account uncertainty in material properties, loading characteristics, fatigue models, detection capacities of inspection methods, etc. Optimising inspection and maintenance strategies under uncertainty is therefore vital for effective SIM and cost reductions. This paper proposes a value of information (VoI) computation and Bayesian decision optimisation (BDO) approach to optimal maintenance planning of typical fatigue-prone structural systems under uncertainty. It is shown that the approach can yield optimal maintenance strategies reliably in various maintenance decision making problems or contexts, which are characterized by different cost ratios. It is also shown that there are decision making contexts where inspection information doesn’t add value, and condition based maintenance (CBM) is not cost-effective. The CBM strategy is optimal only in the decision making contexts where VoI > 0. The proposed approach overcomes the limitation of CBM strategy and highlights the importance of VoI computation (to confirm VoI > 0) before adopting inspections and CBM.


Author(s):  
Furqan Qamar ◽  
Shunde Qin

AbstractAround the globe, the need for additional housing, due to the increase in world population, has led to the exploration of more cost effective and environmentally friendly forms of construction. Out of many technologies found, mortar-free interlocked masonry systems were developed to eliminate the deficiency of traditional masonry. For such systems against earthquakes, lateral resistance can be enhanced with plaster. But there is a need to further improve the performance of plaster in mortar-free interlocking walls for better ductility. The objective of this study is to develop nonlinear finite element (NLFE) models to explore the likely failure mechanism (e.g. bond failure) of such systems and to do parametric studies more cheaply than constructing many walls. Lateral failure load, load–displacement curves and crack patterns were compared with the experimental results. Parametric studies involving variation in block and plaster compressive strength and plaster thickness were undertaken using TNO DIANA NLFE models. A 150% increase in thickness of plaster only resulted in 28% increase in failure load, and column thickness can be reduced to theoretical 25 mm of blocks with 8 mm of plaster and yet exceed the lateral strength of a 150-mm-thick unplastered column. A cost analysis was also carried out, based on NLFE models, and showed that fibrous plastered column with 25-mm-thickness blocks gave equivalent performance to the 150-mm-thick unplastered column with 67% cost saving.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7245
Author(s):  
Beniamino Murgante ◽  
Mohammad Eskandari Sani ◽  
Sara Pishgahi ◽  
Moslem Zarghamfard ◽  
Fatemeh Kahaki

The Lut desert is one of the largest and most attractive deserts in Iran. The value of desert tourism remains unclear for Iran’s economy and has only recently been taken into consideration by the authorities, although its true national and international value remains unclear. This study was aimed at investigating the factors that influence tourism development in the Lut desert. Data collected through the purposive sampling method was analyzed using Interpretive Structural Modeling and the MICMAC Analysis. According to the results, cost-effective travel expenses, security, and safety provided in the desert, together with appropriate media advertising and illustration of the Lut desert (branding) are the leading factors that influence tourism in the Lut desert in Iran. This paper highlighted the importance of desert tourism, especially in this region.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
pp. 101301
Author(s):  
A.Z. Zheng ◽  
S.J. Bian ◽  
E. Chaudhry ◽  
J. Chang ◽  
H. Haron ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Rama Subba Reddy Gorla

Heat transfer from a nuclear fuel rod bumper support was computationally simulated by a finite element method and probabilistically evaluated in view of the several uncertainties in the performance parameters. Cumulative distribution functions and sensitivity factors were computed for overall heat transfer rates due to the thermodynamic random variables. These results can be used to identify quickly the most critical design variables in order to optimize the design and to make it cost effective. The analysis leads to the selection of the appropriate measurements to be used in heat transfer and to the identification of both the most critical measurements and the parameters.


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