Test 2 on CEO 814: Design of offshore structures – Fatigue analysis of tubular joints

Centre of Excellence, Marine/Offshore Engineering, MSc Programme.

Attempt all questions: Time allowed 3hrs.

gap L
Brace D(mm) T(mm) t(mm)  (mm) (mm)

A 1200 16 28
(gAB)
B 1200 14 29 400
(gBC)
C 1200 16 46 400

Chord 1248  9000

Figure 1: K-T tubular joint and its dimensions

The stress concentration factors (SCFs) for the hot spots for the tubular joint shown in figure 1 above are given in table
1 below. The maximum and minimum loading from global analysis on jacket structure for the tubular joint under
investigation in 3-different sea states summary are given in Table 2.

Table 1: Hot spots SCFs

Summary Maximum values of SCFs
SCFAC/AS SCFMIP SCFMOP
Chord location
A 1.85 0.985 3.389
B 3.34 1.578 4.501
C 2.981 1.415 2.978
Brace Location
A 1.587 2.741 2.965
B 2.699 2.473 4.601
C 2.055 2.419 2.792

Table 2: Maximum and minimum loads for different sea states from global analysis on joint.
Hs=1.5m, Tp=9s: Wave action =3; Wave duration+10800s;
member Wave set 1 Axial (Nx [N]) Moment in-plane Moment out-of-
(MIP) (Nmm) plane (MOP) (Nmm)
chord Load max/time 19699.65 @ 6s 428631.08 @6s 29814963.20@20s
Load min/time -26152.01 @3s -438880.08 @38s -27307270.00@6s
Brace
A Load max/time 26702.71 @6s 46942.12 @2s 539051.34 @3s
Load min/time -25386.96 @38s -38826.14 @7s -490829.17 @6s
B Load max/time - @- 389537.67 @38s 1858633.68 @6s
Load min/time - @- -348068.33 @6s -1869966.30 @38s
C Load max/time 20196.94 @38s 21275.53 @2s 317269.97 @2s
Load min/time -20098.30 @6s -12976.84 @6s -293152.20 @69s

1
Hs=2.0m, Tp=9s: Wave action =3; Wave duration+10800s;
member Wave set 1 Axial (Nx [N]) Moment in-plane (MIP) Moment out-of-plane
(Nmm) (MOP) (Nmm)
chord Load max/time 25767.65 @10851s 583147.84 @10851s 39106693.00 @10802s
Load min/time -25518.10 @10802s -598679.06 @10802s -37947880.00 @10851s
Brace
A Load max/time 36356.59 @10851s 45652.58 @10829s 639436.56 @10802s
Load min/time -33952.59 @10802s -47852.27 @10806s -596946.84 @10851s
B Load max/time - 482357.32 @10021s 2581801.37 @10851s
Load min/time - -470584.84 @10851s -2672724.60 @10802s
C Load max/time 27967.19 @10802s 14346.91 @10801s 421020.06 @10829s
Load min/time -27963.29 @10851s -14796.42 @10806s -421584.67 @10806s

Hs=2.5m, Tp=9s: Wave action =2; Wave duration+10800s;

member Wave set 1 Axial (Nx [N]) Moment in-plane (MIP) Moment out-of-plane
(Nmm) (MOP) (Nmm)
chord Load max/time 33339.55@ 21651s 739233.41 @21651s 44322684.0 @21619s
Load min/time -32635.17 @21602s -718961.40 @21602s -47073550.0 @21651
Brace
A Load max/time 41277.09 @21651s 60803.89 @21601s 805776.60 @21602s
Load min/time -41997.15 @21602s -63938.62 @21606s -761766.25 @21651s
B Load max/time - 573978.39 @21602 3130019.96 @21602s
Load min/time - -591449.24 @21651s -3091449.80 @21601s
C Load max/time 34824.51 @21602s 17993.64 @21601s 498761.10 @21602s
Load min/time -35620.99 @21651s -19458.03 @21606s -527167.13 @21606s

Using these values, estimate the fatigue life (years) associated with the joint for DFF values of 1, 5, and 10. Assume
1year=365 days. Use the S-N curve equation to be as shown below
𝒌
𝒕
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝑵 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂 − 𝒎. 𝒍𝒐𝒈 [∆𝝈 ∗ (𝒕 ) ]
𝒓𝒆𝒇

with the associated table 3 below describing limit values for the coefficients above

Table 3: Coefficients for S-N curve for tubular joints

S-N N ≤ 107 N >107 Thickness exponent ‘’k’’
curve
Tubulars Log a1 m1 Log a2 m2 0.3 for SCF ≤ 10
11.764 3 15.606 5 0.3 for SCF ≥ 10

N = Predicted number of cycles to failure for stress range ∆𝜎

Log a = Intercept of log N – axis by S-N curve
m = Negative inverse slope of S-N curve
t = Thickness through which a crack will most likely grow.
tref = Reference thickness for tubular joint is 32mm
k = Thickness exponent on fatigue strength

Note: other relevant equations shall be provided for on request.

2
Formula sheets
Load range estimates
• Axial:
∆Nx.i = Max. Axial load − Min. Axial load [N]
• In-plane bending:
∆My.i = Max. IPB load − Min. IPB load [Nmm]
• Out-of-plane bending:
∆Mz.i = Max. OPB load − Min. OPB load [Nmm]

Stress range estimate

• Axial:
∆Nx.i
∆σx.i = 𝐴𝑖
[𝑀𝑃𝑎]
• In-plane bending:
∆My.i ∗𝑦𝑖
∆σmy.i = [𝑀𝑃𝑎]
𝐼𝑌.𝑖
• Out-of-plane bending:
∆Mz.i ∗𝑦𝑖
∆σmz.i = 𝐼𝑍.𝑖
[𝑀𝑃𝑎]

HSSR at the 8 hot spots

• ∆σ1 = SCFAC ∗ ∆σx + SCFMIP ∗ ∆σmy
1 1 1
• ∆σ2 = 2 (SCFAC + SCFAS ) ∗ ∆σx + 2 √2 SCFMIP ∗ ∆σmy − 2 √2 SCFMOP ∗ ∆σmz
• ∆σ3 = SCFAC ∗ ∆σx − SCFMOP ∗ ∆σmz
1 1 1
• ∆σ4 = 2 (SCFAC + SCFAS ) ∗ ∆σx − 2 √2 SCFMIP ∗ ∆σmy − 2 √2 SCFMOP ∗ ∆σmz
• ∆σ5 = SCFAC ∗ ∆σx − SCFMIP ∗ ∆σmy
1 1 1
• ∆σ6 = (SCFAC + SCFAS ) ∗ ∆σx − √2 SCFMIP ∗ ∆σmy + √2 SCFMOP ∗ ∆σmz
2 2 2
• ∆σ7 = SCFAC ∗ ∆σx + SCFMOP ∗ ∆σmz
1 1 1
• ∆σ8 = 2 (SCFAC + SCFAS ) ∗ ∆σx + 2 √2 SCFMIP ∗ ∆σmy + 2 √2 SCFMOP ∗ ∆σmz