• Journal of the Korean Society of Mechanical Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.830-835
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• 2018

The tubular link chain conveyor works under very extreme conditions such as high tensile load, friction, and dangerous operating environments. In this study, we propose an optimal design plan for reducing cost and improving performance through weight reduction of tubular link chain conveyors for sludge transport. For light weight of tubular link chain conveyor, the optimization software using SHERPA algorithms, HEEDS was used in conjunction with ANSYS Mechanical V14.5, which is widely used in structural analysis, to achieve optimal tubular link chain. Through the optimization process, 19% light weight was achieved.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.97-121
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• 2023

Through-the-thickness stress distribution in a tubular member has a profound effect on the fatigue behavior of tubular joints commonly found in steel offshore structures. This stress distribution can be characterized by the degree of bending (DoB). Although multi-planar joints are an intrinsic feature of offshore tubular structures and the multi-planarity usually has a considerable effect on the DoB values at the brace-to-chord intersection, few investigations have been reported on the DoB in multi-planar joints due to the complexity of the problem and high cost involved. In the present research, data extracted from the stress analysis of 243 finite element (FE) models, verified based on available parametric equations, was used to study the effects of geometrical parameters on the DoB values in two-planar tubular DYT-joints. Parametric FE study was followed by a set of nonlinear regression analyses to develop six new DoB parametric equations for the fatigue analysis and design of axially loaded two-planar DYT-joints.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.361-372
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• 2019

Tubular joints are used in the construction of offshore structures and other land-based structures because of its ease of fabrication. These joints are subjected to different environmental loadings in their lifetime. At the time of fabrication or modification of an existing offshore platform, tubular joints are usually strengthened to withstand the environmental loads. Currently, various strengthening techniques such as ring stiffeners, gusset plates are employed to strengthen new and existing tubular joints. Due to some limitations with the present practices, some new techniques need to be addressed. Many researchers used Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) to strengthen tubular joints. Some of the studies were focused on axial compression of Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) strengthened tubular joints and found that it was an efficient technique. Earlier, the authors had performed studies on Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) strengthened tubular joint subjected to axial compression. The study steered to the conclusion that FRP composites is an alternative strengthening technique for tubular joints. In this work, the study was focused on axial compression of Y-joint and in plane and out of plane bending of T-joints. Experimental investigations were performed on these joints, fabricated from ASTM A106 Gr. B steel. Two sets of joints were fabricated for testing, one is a reference joint and the other is a joint strengthened with CFRP. After performing the set of experiments, test results were then compared with the numerical solution in ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL). It was observed that the joints strengthened with CFRP were having improved strength, lesser surface displacement and ovalization when compared to the reference joint.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.615-633
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• 2017

Fatigue crack initiated in welded tubular joints due to cyclic loading may produce harmful effect on the integrity of the tubular structures. To study such effect, both fatigue and static tests on nine circular tubular T-joint specimens made of carbon steel materials were carried out. The specimens were subjected to tensile loading in both fatigue and static tests. The load-displacement relation, the crack propagation and the failure mode of the specimens are all analyzed. The deterioration of the static strength of the cracked T-joints is also investigated and evaluated through an area reduction factor. Experimental results indicate that the static strength of a tubular T-joint with a surface crack seems to decrease slightly while a through crack has relatively remarkable effect on the reduction of the static strength. Additionally, experimental results also show that the toughness of the materials and the geometry of the specimens play an important role on the failure process of cracked tubular T-joints.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.425-439
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• 2017

As a thin-walled structure, local joint flexibility (LJF) in a tubular structure is prominent, and it may produce significant effect on the static performance for the overall structure. This study presents a simplified analytical model to analyze the static behavior for a steel tubular structure with LJF. The presented model simplifies a tubular structure into a frame model consisted of beam elements with considering the LJFs at the connections between any two elements. Theoretical equations of the simplified analytical model are deduced. Through comparison with 3-D finite element results of two typical planar tubular structures consisted of T- and Y-joints respectively, the presented method is proved to be accurate. Furthermore, the effect of LJF on the overall performance of the two tubular structures (including the deflection and the internal forces) is also investigated, and it is found from analyses of internal forces and deformation that a rigid connection assumption in a frame model by using beam elements in finite element analysis can provide unsafe and inaccurate estimation.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.577-577
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• 1989

In this paper, a detail evaluation of ultimate strength of offshore unstiffened tubular members with bending and local denting damage which are subjected to combined axial force and bending moment and to component load is presented through theoretical and experimental approaches. Based upon the results obtained here, the damage effect on the ultimate strength of tubular member under combined loads and component load is investigated.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.77-86
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• 1989

In this paper, a detail evaluation of ultimate strength of offshore unstiffened tubular members with bending and local denting damage which are subjected to combined axial force and bending moment and to component load is presented through theoretical and experimental approaches. Based upon the results obtained here, the damage effect on the ultimate strength of tubular member under combined loads and component load is investigated.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.269-276
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• 2001

Tubular structures are widely used for offshore platforms and truss type structures. In this paper, nonlinear finite element analysis is used to assess the static strength of stiffened tubular T-joints subjected to compressive brace loading. This joints was modelled with and without internal ring stiffener According to variation of ring geometries, the effect of ring stiffener for T-joints are investigated. Internal ring stiffener is found to be efficient improving ultimate strength of tubular joints. Relations of ring thickness and axial strength are observed considering geometric parameters of ring stiffeners.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1017-1029
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• 2016

When a welded circular hollow section (CHS) tubular joint is subjected to brace axial loading, failure position is located usually at the weld toe on the chord surface due to the weak flexural stiffness of the thin-walled chord. The failure mode is local yielding or buckling in most cases for a tubular joint subjected to axial load at the brace end. Especially when a cyclic axial load is applied, fracture failure at the weld toe may occur because both high stress concentration and welding residual stress along the brace/chord intersection cause the material in this region to become brittle. To improve the ductility as well as to increase the static strength, a tubular joint can be reinforced by increasing the chord thickness locally near the brace/chord intersection. Both experimental investigation and finite element analysis have been carried out to study the hysteretic behaviour of the reinforced tubular joint. In the experimental study, the hysteretic performance of two full-scale circular tubular T-joints subjected to cyclic load in the axial direction of the brace was investigated. The two specimens include a reinforced specimen by increasing the wall thickness of the chord locally at the brace/chord intersection and a corresponding un-reinforced specimen. The hysteretic loops are obtained from the measured load-displacement curves. Based on the hysteretic curves, it is found that the reinforced specimen is more ductile than the un-reinforced one because no fracture failure is observed after experiencing similar loading cycles. The area enclosed by the hysteretic curves of the reinforced specimen is much bigger, which shows that more energy can be dissipated by the reinforced specimen to indicate the advantage of the reinforcing method in resisting seismic action. Additionally, finite element analysis is carried out to study the effect of the thickness and the length of the reinforced chord segment on the hysteretic behaviour of CHS tubular T-joints. The optimized reinforcing method is recommended for design purposes.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.34-39
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• 2003

Recent deepwater offshore structures in the Gulf of Mexico utilize butt welded tubular joints. Application of a welded tubular joint includes tendons, production risers, and steel catenary risers. Fatigue life assessment of these joints becomes more critical, as the structures to which they are attached are allowed to undergo cyclic and sometimes large displacements around an anchored position. Estimation of the fatigue behavior of these tubular members in the design stage is generally condrcted by using S-N curves, as specified in the codeds and standards. Applying the stress concentration factor of the welded structure to the S-N approach often results in a very conservative assessment, because the stress field acting on the tubular has a non-uniform distribution through the thickness. Fatigue life analysis using fracture mechanics has been applied in the design of the catenary risers. This technology enables the engineer to establish proper requirements on weld quality and inspection acceptance criteria to assure satisfactory structural integrity during its design life. It also provides guidance on proper design curves and a methodology for accounting for the effects of non-uniform stress distribution through the wall thickness. Still, there is inconsistency when designing tubular joints using a conventional S-N approach and when specifying weld flaw acceptance criteria using fracture mechanics approach. This study developed fatigue curves that are consistent with both the S-N approach and the fracture mechanics approach. Accounting for non-uniform stress distribution and threshold stress intensity factor were key parameters in relating both approaches. A series of S-N curves, generated from the fracture mechanics approach, were compared to the existing S-N curves. For flat plate butt joint, the S-N curve generated from fracture mechanics matches with the IIW class 100 curve when initial crack depth was 0.5 mm (0.02 ). The new curves for tubular joint agree very well with the experimental results. The comparison also indicated the degree of conservatism built into the API X design curve.