Improvement of trawler hull structure under condition of ensuring fatigue strength

The structure of the hull of the project 1288 trawler in a region of fore hold was improved to ensure fatigue strength of assemblies of the intersection of main frames with the second bottom. To this end, a study of the fatigue strength of these assemblies was carried out for the original side structure and two versions of its modernization. Values of internal forces at the points of appearance of fatigue cracks in the compartment have been determined for three design versions of the side. It was found that the greatest forces act in the middle of the fore half of the compartment. Calculations of parameters of the long-term distribution of magnitudes of ranges of total equivalent operating stresses according to the Weibull law in the points of occurrence of fatigue cracks for different design versions of the side grillage have been performed. These parameters were determined for the middle of the fore hold of the vessel and for the areas in which maximum values of bending moment ranges are in effect with and without corrosive wear. Values of total fatigue damage and durability of the studied assemblies were determined. Calculations were carried out by nominal stress method, hot spot stress method, and experimental and theoretical method. It was shown that in order to ensure fatigue strength of the assembly under consideration, it is necessary to extend the intermediate frames of the original version of the side structure to the level of the second bottom fixing them to the deck. It is also necessary to attach a cargo platform to the side thus reducing the frame span. As a result, the level of fatigue damage over 25 years of operation will decrease by about 3.5 times. As it was found, approximate consideration of the slamming effect does not significantly increase the amount of fatigue damage to the assembly. The results of the development of recommendations for modernization of the side structure can be implemented both on ships of the 1288 project and on other ships with a transverse side framing system.

Fatigue Strength Curve for Tubular Joints of Offshore Structures under Dynamic Loading

Offshore structures are subjected to dynamic environmental loads (wave and wind loads). A stress-life fatigue strength curve is proposed for tubular joints which are in the splash zone area of offshore jacket structures. The Det Norske Veritas (DNV) offshore structures standards given design T-curve in the air is modified with the environment-dependent parameters to obtain this fatigue strength curve. Validity of the curve is done by comparing fatigue lives given by the proposed curve with experimental fatigue lives of tubular joints tested in seawater under different loading conditions. The fatigue assessment of a case study tubular joint is performed using the proposed curve. Nominal stress ranges of the members, which are connected to the joint, are obtained by dynamic analysis of the jacket structure. Stress concentration factors are utilized with the nominal stresses to obtain the hot spot stress ranges. Fatigue lives are calculated and compared with the conventional approach. Hence the applicability and significance of the proposed fatigue strength curve are discussed.

Fat classes of welded steel details derived from the master design curve of the peak stress method

In this paper, the peak stress method (PSM) is adopted to analyse the fatigue strength of steel welded joints. According to this method, a single design curve is expressed in terms of a properly defined equivalent peak stress and it is valid for fatigue design of arc-welded steel joints. Private companies often need simple finite element beam models for fatigue strength assessments, because of the large dimensions of the structures. However, beam elements provide nominal stresses (and not local stresses) that must be compared with appropriate fatigue strength values (the FAT classes) available in design standards. Due to the limited number of FAT classes available, finding the appropriate one is frequently troublesome, particularly when complex geometries are considered. The objective of this work is to define FAT classes in terms of nominal stress for a number of geometrically complex structural details, starting from the design curve of the PSM. FAT classes have also been determined using the hot spot stress approach. Then the results obtained with the two methods are compared. The structural details analysed in the present paper are typically adopted in amusement park structures and are not classified in common design standards.

Fatigue assessment of a steel truss bridge based on multi-dimensional finite element modelling

<p>This paper presents a multidimensional finite element modelling approach for the fatigue assessment of welded railway bridges based on a case study of a railway bridge in Belgium. The nominal stress approach of Eurocode 3 is compared to a hot spot stress based fatigue life calculation for the standardized fatigue load models for railway traffic. Hot spot stresses are calculated with an in-house developed framework that allows automated determination of hot spot stresses. It is discussed how this work can fit in a larger decision support system in the scope of structural health monitoring. The presented approach proves to be better for decision support compared to the conventional approach in the Eurocode.</p>

Fatigue design using the structure stress concept for welded metal structures

<p>Due to the progress in FE calculations, local stress increases of welded metal structures can be evaluated more precisely using the structure stress approach (hot-spot stress concept). Inadequate regulations, however, lead to significant uncertainties with this approach. There is a deficiency in instructions on modelling, stress determination and methods for dealing with misalignment and thickness influences. Therefore, difficulties regarding the structure stress concept are pointed out and possible solution strategies are presented. To reduce uncertain influences from modelling, correction factors are specified based on the element approach, extrapolation rule and thickness. A series of static tests is carried out specifically for this purpose. The objective is to develop conclusive regulations for the hot-spot stress concept and evaluate it as an additional normatively anchored method for fatigue safety.</p>

Fatigue evaluation of hot spot stress in fatigue vulnerable area of bridge deck structure based on thermal energy modelling

The paper takes a Yangtze River bridge as the object, establishes a finite element model of the highway orthotropic steel deck structure, calculates and analyzes the fatigue stress of specific structural details based on the hot spot stress method, and obtains the fatigue vulnerable area of this type of bridge deck structure. Based on the bridge?s actual use, the thesis calculates and evaluates the fatigue life of the typical welding details of the bridge deck based on the American Highway Bridge Design Code. The results show that the fatigue stress amplitude calculation of the five types of fatigue vulnerable structure details under the Fatigue ? and Fatigue ? limit states. The values are all less than the allowable value, and the fatigue life meets the design requirements.