Strength Evaluation Formulae for Ring-Stiffened Tubular X-Joints

내부 환보강 X형 관이음부의 강도산정식

Tubular members have been applied in a wide range of frame structures including offshore structures. For the efficient load flow in tubular-member structures, the joints of tubular members are usually reinforced using internal ring stiffener for the steel tubular joint having a large diameter. The objective of this paper is to numerically assess the behavior of X-joints with an internal ring stiffener, and to evaluate the reinforcement effect of a ring stiffener, and to establish the strength formulae. Nonlinear finite element analysis is used to compute the static strength of axially loaded tubular joints. From the numerical results, internal ring stiffener is found to be efficient in improving static strength of tubular X-joints. Maximum strength ratios are calculated as 1.5~3.5, and the effective dimensions of ring stiffener are found. Regression analyses are performed considering practical size of ring stiffener and strength estimation formulae are proposed.