Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to verify the structural integrity of a region with numerous penetration-holes in offshore structures such as semi-submersible rig and FPSO. In order to effectively check the yielding and buckling strength of plate members with penetration-holes, a screening analysis program was developed with the FE analysis tool to generate fine meshed model using the theoretical and analysis methods. When a hole is appeared in the plate structure members, the flow of stress is altered such that concentrations of stress form near the hole. Stress concentrations are of concern during both preliminary and detail design and need to be addressed from the perspectives of strength. To configure the geometrical shape, very fine meshed FE analysis is needed as the most accurate method. However, this method is practically impossible to apply for the strength verifications for all perforated plates. In this paper, screening analysis method was introduced to reduce analysis tasks prior to detailed FE analysis. This method is applied to not only the peak stress calculation combined stress concentration factor with nominal stress but also nominal equivalent stress calculation considering cutout effects. The areas investigated by very fine meshed analysis were to be chosen through screening analysis without any reinforcements for penetration-holes. If screening analysis results did not satisfy the acceptance criteria, direct FE analysis method as the 2nd step approach were applied with one of the coarse meshed model considering hole or with the very fine meshed model considering the hole shape and size. In order to effectively perform the local fine meshed analysis, automatic model generating program was developed based on the MSC/PATRAN which is pre-post FE analysis program. Buckling strength was also evaluated by Common Structure Rule (CSR) adopted by IACS as the stress obtained from very fine meshed FE analysis. Due to development of the screening analysis program and automatic FE modeling program, it was able to reduce the design periods and structural analysis costs.