• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.677-698
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• 2005

In engineering practice, tubular connections are usually assumed pinned or rigid. Recent research showed that tubular joints may exhibit non-rigid behavior under axial or bending loads. This paper is concerned with establishing a new classification for tubular joints and investigating the effect of joint rigidity on the global behavior of CHS (Circular Hollow Section) lattice girders. Parametric formulae for predicting tubular joint rigidities are proposed, which are based on the finite element analyses through systematic variation of the main geometric parameters. Comparison with test results proves the reliability of these formulae. By considering the deformation patterns of respective parts of Vierendeel lattice girders, the boundary between rigid and semirigid tubular connections is built in terms of joint bending rigidity. In order to include characteristics of joint rigidity in the global structural analysis, a type of semirigid element which can effectively reflect the interaction of two braces in K joints is introduced and validated. The numerical example of a Warren lattice girder with different joint models shows the great effect of tubular joint rigidities on the internal forces, deformation and secondary stresses.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.54-58
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• 2005

Large-scale model tests of welded tubular K-joints were carried out to observe the fatigue behavior of API 2W Gr.50 steel produced by POSCO. The fatigue crack behaviors for various loading conditions were measured and investigated around the critical joint sections. The experimental results have been verified with numerical approaches and were also compared with the IIW, DnV RP-C203 and API RP 2A-WSD design curves. The hot-spot stress method was applied in the study. The SCF factor for tubular K-joint was also obtaine.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.151-167
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• 2014

It is common that analyses of offshore platforms being carried out with the assumption of rigid tubular joints. However, many researches have concluded that it is necessary that local joint flexibility (LJF) of tubular joints should be taken into account. Meanwhile, advanced analysis of old offshore platforms considering local joint flexibility leads to more accurate results. This paper presents an extensive finite-element (FE) based study on the flexibility of uni-planner multi-brace tubular Y-T and K-joints commonly found in offshore platforms. A wide range of geometric parameters of Y-T and K-joints in offshore practice is covered to generate reliable parametric equations for flexibility matrices. The formulas are obtained by non-linear regression analyses on the database. The proposed equations are verified against existing analytical and experimental formulations. The equations can be used reliably in global analyses of offshore structures to account for the LJF effects on overall behavior of the structure.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.383-390
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• 2017

This paper highlights the experimental and numerical investigations performed on a tubular T-joint fabricated from circular hollow sections under axial compressive loads applied at the brace. Tests were performed on a reference joint and the joint wrapped with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP). The Nitowrap EP carbon fiber with Nitowrap 410 resin serve as a composite material is used for wrapping the T-joint. Schematic diagram of the fabricated tubular joint for the experimental test setup, along with the experimental and numerical results are presented. After performing these experiments, it has been demonstrated that the joint wrapped with CFRP has a better strength and lesser deflection than a reference joint. Finite element analysis carried out in Ansys reveals that the results were in good correlation with the experimental values.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.655-663
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• 2006

Large-scale model tests of welded tubular K-joints were carried out to observe the fatigue behavior of API 2W Gr.50 steel produced by POSCO. The fatigue crack behaviors for various loading conditions were measured and investigated around the critical joint sections. The experimental results have been verified with numerical approaches and also compared with the IIW, DnV RP-C203 and API RP 2A-WSD design curves. The hot spot strss method was applied in the study. The SCF factor for tubular K-joint was also obtained.

• 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.22 no.2
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• pp.58-64
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• 2008

Large-scale tests of welded tubular K-joint sunder balanced in-plane bending braces were carried out to observe the fatigue behavior of the API 2W Gr.60 steel plate produced by POSCO. Toe grinding and weld profiling were used to improve the fatigue life of a tubular K-joint. The effects of the steel grade and chord wall thickness on the fatigue life were also investigated. The present results were compared with the UK DEn design curve.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.125-138
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• 2000

The paper analyzes the problem of torsion in an adhesive non-tubular bonded single-lap joint. The joint considered consists of two thin rectangular section beams bonded together along a side surface. Assuming the materials involved to be governed by linear elastic laws, equilibrium and compatibility equations were used to arrive at an integro-differential relation whose solution makes it possible to determine torsional moment section by section in the bonded joint between the two beams. This is then used to determine the predominant stress and strain field at the beam-adhesive interface (stress field along the direction perpendicular to the interface plane, equivalent to the applied torsional moment and the corresponding strain field) and the joint's elastic strain (absolute and relative rotations of the bonded beam cross sections). All the relations presented were obtained in closed form. Results obtained theoretically are compared with those given by a three dimensional finite element numerical model. Theoretical and numerical analysis agree satisfactorily.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.18 no.6 s.61
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• pp.70-78
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• 2004

In order to increase the load carrying capacity of tubular structures, the joints of tubular members are usually reinforced with various reinforcement system. A stiffening method with internal ring stiffeners is effectively used for the steel tubular joint with a large diameter. In this study, the behavior of internally ring-stiffened tubular T-joints subjected to axial loading is assessed. For the parametric study, nonlinear finite element analyses are used to compute the static strength on non-stiffened and ring-stiffened T-joints. Based on the numerical results, an internal ring stiffener is found to be efficient in improving the static strength. The influence of geometric parameters has been determined, and the reinforcement effect are evaluated. Based on the FE results, regression analises are performed considering the practical size of ring stiffener. Finally strength estimation formulas for ring-stiffened tubular T-joints are proposed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.585-596
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• 2017

Tubular joints have been widely used in offshore platforms and space structures due to their merits such as easy fabrication, aesthetic appearance and better static strength. For existing tubular joints, a grouted sleeve reinforced method was proposed in this paper. Experimental tests on five tubular T-joints reinforced with the grouted sleeve and two conventional tubular T-joints were conducted to investigate their mechanical behaviour. A constant axial compressive force was applied to the chord end to simulate the compressive state of the chord member during the tests. Then an axial compressive force was applied to the top end of the brace member until the collapse of the joint specimens occurred. The parameters investigated herein were the grout thickness, the sleeve length coefficient and the sleeve construction method. The failure mode, ultimate load, initial stiffness and deformability of these joint specimens were discussed. It was found that: (1) The grouted sleeve could change the failure mode of tubular T-joints. (2) The grouted sleeve was observed to provide strength enhancement up to 154.3%~172.7% for the corresponding un-reinforced joint. (3) The initial stiffness and deformability were also greatly improved by the grouted sleeve. (4) The sleeve length coefficient was a key parameter for the improved effect of the grouted sleeve reinforced method.