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.

Stress Distribution Analysis of DKDT Tubular Joint in a Minimum Offshore Structure

A marginal field defines as an oil and/or gas field that has a short production period, low proven reservoir, and could not be exploited using existing technology. As the demand for oil and gas keeps increasing, one of the solutions to tackle the issues is to build the modified platform which came to be more minimalist to conduct the oil and gas production in the marginal field. Naturally, the minimum offshore structures are cost less but low in redundancy, therefore, pose more risks. Although the study on the minimum structures is still uncommon, there are opportunities to find innovative systems that need to have a further analysis toward such invention. Therefore, this study took the modified jacket platform as a minimum structure, and local stresses analysis by using finite element method is applied for the most critical tubular joint with multiplanarity of the joint is taking into account. The analysis was carried out using the finite element program of Salome Meca with three-dimensional solid elements are used to model the multiplanar joint. Various loading types of axial force, in-plane bending moment, and out-of-plane bending moment are applied respectively to investigate the stress distribution along the brace-chord intersection line of the tubular joint. The results show that the hotspot stress occurred at a different point along each brace-chord intersection line for each loading type. Finally, as compared to the in-plane bending moment or out-of-plane bending moment loading types, the axial force loading state is thought to generate greater hotspot stress.

Updating the Distributions of Uncertain Parameters Involved in Fatigue Analysis

Fatigue is an important failure mode in offshore jacket platforms. To evaluate the fatigue damage, these platforms are periodically inspected during their lifetime. Regarding fatigue damage, the information from inspection consists of crack measurement. A Bayesian framework can be used to update the probability distribution of the crack size. The main purpose of this study is to develop a framework to update the probability distributions of all uncertain parameters involved in the fatigue crack growth analysis. This methodology maximizes the benefit of the inspection results by updating several uncertain parameters involved in the fracture mechanics approach. Two sets of cracks are used to obtain the updated distributions for uncertain parameters; prior cracks and simulated reality cracks. By comparing these cracks, the updated distributions for uncertain parameters are obtained. The updated crack size distribution can be used to update the estimation of the probability of failure. To demonstrate the developed framework, a tubular joint in a specific jacket platform is considered and the framework is applied for that joint. The results of the developed methodology indicate that the updated distributions of uncertain parameters shift towards the simulated reality distributions.

Revaluation of Fatigue Thickness Effect Based on Fatigue Test Database

This paper reassesses the detrimental effect on fatigue performance due to thicker sections based on extensive fatigue strength test database, taken from research program worldwide over the past half of a century in offshore oil & gas and renewable industry. The data entries in the database have been evaluated to ensure its data integrity. Statistical analyses on these S-N data are performed with or without the thickness correction at different exposure level to corrosive environment, in order to re-evaluate the suitability of current standards in regard to the thickness effect. The study has concentrated on T-joint, transverse butt welded joint and tubular joint as these are the most commonly used joint types in the offshore wind industry. The analysis indicates general agreement of fatigue strength with the thickness effects in current standard for in air conditions but great conservatism for corrosive environment.