Fatigue Crack Monitoring of T-Type Joints in Steel Offshore Oil and Gas Jacket Platform

Several approaches have been used in the past to predict fatigue crack growth rates in T-joints of the offshore structures, but there are relatively few cases of applying structural health monitoring during the non-destructive testing of jacket platforms. This paper presents an experimental method based on the sensing of the piezoelectric sensors and finite element analysis method for studying the fatigue cracks in the offshore steel jacket structure. Three types of joints are selected in the current research work: T-type plate, T-type tube-plate, and T-type tube joints. The finite element analysis model established in the current study computes and analyzes the high stress and high strain regions in the T-type joints. The fatigue damage in the T-type joints was successfully detected by utilizing both the finite element analysis and experimental methods. The results showed that fatigue cracks of the three types of joints are prone to appear at the weld toe and spread in the welding direction. The fatigue damage location of T-type plate and T-type tube-plate joints is more concentrated in the upper weld toe area, and the fatigue damage location of the T-type tube joint is closer to the lower weld toe area.

Experimental and numerical stress and strain analysis of the boiler reversing chamber tube plate

Boilers are one of the most used units for both heat generation plants and industry systems. Their operation is subjected to different working loads and maintenance requirements. Exploitation experience points out critical boiler zones where failures and break downs typically occur. This paper analyzes critical zones in hot water fire-tube boiler. Experimental procedure was performed on the model of this type of boilers and its critical element. The tube plate of hot water boiler was identified as the most critical one. Experimental analysis and numerical model verification were performed using Aramis system based on 3D Digital Image Correlation method. Numerical analysis was done in Ansys Software Package and verification of results was done based on measurements obtained by strain gauges and local measurements performed by the Aramis system. Stress-strain analysis indicates the critical zones of boiler tube plate. The character of change parameters such as strain and stress occurring in the critical zones can be verified both by experimental and numerical data. The paper presents a novel approach in experimental and numerical analyses that can be conducted in similar units and used for existing unit optimization, as well as for new product testing on different loads and provide opportunity for further development and improvement for practical industrial application.