Accuracy of nonlinear finite element collapse predictions for submarine pressure hulls with and without artificial corrosion damage

Nonlinear finite element (FE) collapse pressure predictions are compared to experimental results for submarine pressure hull test specimens with and without artificial corrosion and tested to collapse under external hydrostatic pressure. The accuracy of FE models, and their sensitivity to modeling and solution procedures, are investigated by comparing FE simulations of the experiments using two different model generators and three solvers. The standard FE methodology includes the use of quadrilateral shell elements, nonlinear mapping of measured geometric imperfections, and quasi-static incremental analyses including nonlinear material and geometry. The FE models are found to be accurate to approximately 11%, with 95% confidence, regardless of the model generator and solver that is used. Collapse pressure predictions for identical FE models obtained using each of the three solvers agree within 2.8%, indicating that the choice of FE solver does not significantly affect the predicted collapse pressure. The FE predictions are found to be more accurate for corroded than for undamaged models, and neglecting the shell eccentricity that arises due to one-sided shell thinning is found to significantly decrease the resulting accuracy of the FE model.     

Time-variant bulk carrier reliability analysis in pure bending intact and damage conditions

Time-variant reliability analysis of a corroded bulk carrier in intact and damage conditions is performed by First-Order (FORM), Second-Order (SORM) Reliability Methods and Importance Sampling simulation. Annual failure probabilities are determined up to 25-year ship lifetime, accounting for time-variant corrosion wastage of structural members contributing to hull girder strength. Statistical properties of hull girder capacity are determined by Monte Carlo simulation, applying three correlation models among corrosion wastages of structural members contributing to hull girder strength, namely no correlation, full correlation and full correlation among wastages of structural members belonging to the same category of compartments. A modified incremental-iterative method is applied, to account for instantaneous neutral axis rotation, in case of asymmetrical damage conditions, as for collision and grounding events. Incidence of intact/damage condition, as well as correlation among corrosion wastages, on annual sagging/hogging time-variant failure probability is investigated and discussed. Time-variant sensitivity analyses for intact and damage conditions are also performed, to investigate the incidence of random variables' uncertainties on the attained failure probability. Finally, the bulk carrier section scheme, benchmarked in the last ISSC Report, is applied as test case.     

Predicting the collapse of externally pressurised ring-stiffened cylinders using finite element analysis

This paper describes the application of finite element (FE) analysis to the prediction of the non-linear elasto-plastic collapse of ring-stiffened cylinders under hydrostatic loading. A range of legacy experimental test models have been analysed using FE idealisations generated using measured as-built shape data including out-of-circularity (OOC), frame alignment and tilt and other scantlings. The FE models also explicitly included the residual stresses caused by cold bending. Short and long ring-stiffened cylinders, which were designed to isolate interframe and overall collapse modes, respectively, were considered as were some intermediate length cylinders where the possibility of interactive collapse was also present. In general, the collapse pressures were predicted to within 6%. However, for some of the interframe collapse models, it was necessary to use the minimum measured plate thickness to achieve this. This was largely attributable to the limited measured plate thickness data.     

Symmetric and anti-symmetric buckle propagation modes in subsea corroded pipelines

Solutions for the steady-state buckle propagation modes and pressures in a corroded pipeline subjected to external hydrostatic pressure are presented. The buckle propagation pressure of a corroded pipeline is obtained analytically with a rigid-plastic analysis and numerically from finite element analysis (ABAQUS). Both the rigid-plastic analysis and ABAQUS program reveal symmetric and anti-symmetric buckling modes, depending on the depth and angular extent of the corrosion. Snap-through and global buckling of the pipeline are also distinguished in both solutions. The rigid-plastic solutions for buckle propagation pressure and corresponding collapse modes are found to be within 15% with numerical solutions.     

A computational investigation of the effects of localized corrosion on plates and stiffened panels

Structural components are prone to corrosion damage, especially when exposed to a sea environment. This article describes an investigation on the effects of local corrosion applied to plates and stiffened panels typically found in ship structures. Finite element investigations of initial buckling, ultimate collapse and post-ultimate responses are presented and described through the use of load-shortening collapse curves. Geometric imperfections and residual stresses were included in the model and results are compared to analytical calculations and available experimental measurements. This improved knowledge of the structural integrity of a damaged ship structure can be used to develop more efficient maintenance practices.     

深水耐压壳仿生设计与分析

文章研究了千米水深蛋壳仿生耐压壳的设计理论与分析方法,首先采用Upadhyaya方程、N-R方程,分别建立了鸡蛋壳、鹅蛋壳形状函数;其次,设计了6 km水深鸡蛋壳、鹅蛋壳仿生耐压壳,并基于解析法和数值法,对这两种结构进行强度和稳定性研究;最后,建立了球形、抛物线形、柱形、椭球形等4种典型耐压壳的数值模型,与仿生耐压壳作对比分析。结果表明:解析法和数值法所得的经向应力、纬向应力、临界屈曲应力吻合良好,鹅蛋壳仿生耐压壳的强度和稳定性优于鸡蛋壳仿生耐压壳,具有较好的耐压特性;球形耐压壳储备浮力能力最优,鹅蛋形、鸡蛋形、柱形、椭球形、抛物线形耐压壳的储备浮力能力分别是球的87%、82%、68%、67%、66%;从储备浮力、壳内空间利用率、流线型、乘员舒适性等方面综合比较可知,鹅蛋壳仿生耐压壳可为深水耐压壳设计提供有效参考。     

Ultimate collapse tests of stiffened-plate ship structural units

An increasingly popular approximate method for assessing ship hull girder ultimate strength is to combine the individual elasto-plastic load-carrying characteristics of each single stiffened-plate unit comprising the ship hull cross section. In order to evaluate methods (numerical and experimental) for developing the load-carrying characteristics (load–shortening curves), a full-scale testing system was designed and constructed to provide data for stiffened steel plate units under combined axial and lateral loads. The system included an assembly of discrete plate edge restraints that were developed to represent symmetric boundary conditions within a grillage system. Twelve full-scale panels including ‘as-built’, ‘deformed’ and ‘damaged’ specimens were tested in this set-up.

The specimens failed by combined plate and flexural buckling, stiffener tripping or local collapse, depending on the magnitude of lateral loads and local damage. Load-shortening curves associated with different failure modes were found to be distinctly different and it was found that a small lateral load could change the failure mode from flexural buckling to tripping. Current design criteria should directly consider effects of the lateral loads on the failure modes and the collapse loads of stiffened plates.     

耐压船体结构典型接点疲劳寿命评估

潜艇在潜浮过程中,由于静水外压引起的工作应力与焊接残余应力叠加,形成拉压循环应力,导致耐压船体的局部结构可能出现低周疲劳裂纹.一般情况下,高强度钢在抗拉强度提高的同时往往伴随着材料塑性储备和断裂韧性的下降,因此分析高强度钢潜艇结构的低周疲劳寿命非常重要.本文基于断裂力学和Paris公式建立了潜艇耐压结构低周疲劳寿命的工程估算方法,根据裂纹无损检测的概率统计和含裂纹圆柱壳极限应力分析,给出了初始裂纹和裂纹临界状态的建议值.应用本文的简化方法分析了某潜艇结构和锥柱结合壳模型的低周疲劳寿命,锥柱结合壳模型的数值算例表明本文的计算结果与试验测试结果相吻合.     

Propagating buckles in corroded pipelines

Rigid–plastic solutions for the steady-state, quasi-static buckle propagation pressure in corroded pipelines are derived and compared to finite element predictions (ABAQUS). The corroded pipeline is modeled as an infinitely long, cylindrical shell with a section of reduced thickness that is used to describe the corrosion. A five plastic hinge mechanism is used to describe plastic collapse of the corroded pipeline. Closed-form expressions are given for the buckle propagation pressure as a function of the amount of corrosion in an X77 steel pipeline. Buckles that propagate down the pipeline are caused by either global or snap-through buckling, depending on the amount of corrosion. Global buckling occurs when the angular extent of the corrosion is greater than 90°. When the angular extent is less than 90° and the corrosion is severe, snap-through buckling takes place. The buckle propagation pressure and the corresponding collapse modes also compare well to finite element predictions.     

Ultimate strength of container ships subjected to combined hogging moment and bottom local loads part 1: Nonlinear finite element analysis

This paper is the first of two companion papers concerning the ultimate hull girder strength of container ships subjected to combined hogging moment and bottom local loads. In the midship part of container ships, upward bottom local loads are usually larger than the downward ones. This leads to the increase of biaxial compression in the outer bottom plating and the reduction of the ultimate hull girder strength in the hogging condition. In this Part 1, the collapse behavior and ultimate strength of container ships under combined hogging moment and bottom local loads are analyzed using nonlinear finite element method. Buckling collapse behavior of bottom stiffened panels during the progressive collapse of a hull girder is closely investigated. It has been found that major factors of the reduction of ultimate hogging strength due to bottom local loads are (1) the increase of the longitudinal compression in the outer bottom and (2) the reduction of the effectiveness of the inner bottom, which is on the tension side of local bending of the double bottom. The obtained results will be utilized in the Part 2 paper to develop a simplified method of progressive collapse analysis of container ships under combined hogging moment and bottom local loads.     

Welding-induced residual stresses and distortions of butt-welded corroded and intact plates

The welding-induced residual stresses and distortions of butt-welds between non-corroded and corroded steel plates are studied experimentally and numerically, simulating a repair in an aged structure. Butt welds are made between plates with different corrosion levels and intact ones, and temperature distributions and distortions have been measured. Finite element analyses of the butt-welded corroded and non-corroded plates are performed to estimate the welding-induced distortions and residual stresses for different levels of corrosion degradation. The environmental conditions during the welding repair process are also accounted for. Experimentally evaluated mechanical properties of corroded steel plates as a function of the temperature during the welding process are employed in non-linear finite element analyses. The importance of the material properties as a function of the severity of the steel plates' corrosion degradation on the welding-induced distortions and residual stresses is also quantified. This study shows the importance of considering the ageing of steel in the repair process. The developed methodology allows critical operational decisions to be made with greater ease and confidence in analysing the welding-induced distortions and residual stresses when ageing structures are repaired to extend their service life. Furthermore, different welding sequence scenarios may be analysed to identify the most appropriate repair solution in minimising the repair cost.     

腐蚀和裂纹损伤下海洋平台极限强度试验研究

根据墨西哥湾某一典型固定式海洋平台为原型,按照刚度相似性和几何相似性,分别设计并制作了完好模型、腐蚀模型、裂纹模型,并对三个试验模型开展极限强度试验研究,试验结果表明腐蚀、裂纹损伤严重影响试验模型极限承载力,且试验模型失效模式各不相同.同时,采用非线性有限元方法,分别对三个试验模型进行计算,将计算结果与试验结果对比分析,验证了该方法在固定式海洋平台极限强度计算方面的有效性.     

船体梁极限强度的近似计算

船体梁的总纵强度是反映船舶结构安全可靠的最基本的强度指标。船体结构极限强度评估对于船舶结构初步设计、使用、维护和维修都非常重要，因此船体梁极限强度研究成为近几十年来船舶工程界的热点研究课题之一。到目前为止有两种典型的加筋板和船体梁的极限强度分析方法，它们是直接计算法和逐步破坏分析法。本文基于加筋板单元的平均应力应变曲线和逐步破坏分拆方法，提出了加筋板和船体梁极限强度的简化分析方法，考虑了初始挠度和残余应力对加筋板单元极限强度的影响。数值结果表明，采用本文简化方法得到的结果与有限元计算结果或其它逐步破坏分析结果比较符合。     

Time-variant ultimate longitudinal strength of corroded bulk carriers

Many bulk carrier losses have been reported of late, and one of the possible causes of such casualties is thought to be the structural failure of aging hulls in rough weather. In aging ships, corrosion and fatigue cracks are the two most important factors affecting structural safety and integrity. This paper uses a set of the time-dependent corrosion wastage models for 23 different member locations/categories of bulk carriers previously developed by the authors, based on the available corrosion measurements for existing large bulk carrier structures. Differences due to the location and corrosion severity of every member type are taken into account. The nominal design corrosion values for the primary members are suggested based on the annualized corrosion rates obtained in the present study. The effect of time-variant corrosion wastage on the ultimate hull girder strength as well as the section moduli is studied. The criteria for repair and maintenance of heavily corroded structural members so as to keep the ultimate longitudinal strength at an acceptable level are discussed. Important insights and conclusions developed are summarized.     

Assessment of IACS-CSR implicit safety levels for buckling strength of stiffened panels for double hull tankers

The present study aims at applying structural reliability methods to assess the implicit safety levels of the buckling strength requirements for longitudinal stiffened panels implemented in the IACS Common Structural Rules (CSR) for double hull oil tankers. The buckling strength requirements considered are used in the initial stage of the hull girder scantlings’ design to control the buckling capacity of longitudinal stiffened panels subjected to the compressive loads induced by the hull girder vertical bending. The following buckling collapse failure modes are explicitly considered in the design formulation: uniaxial buckling of the plating between stiffeners, column buckling of stiffeners with attached plating and lateral-torsional buckling or tripping of stiffeners.The paper presents the procedure used to assess the implicit safety levels of the strength requirements for the three buckling collapse failure modes above mentioned, which includes the optimization of the scantlings of the plate panels and longitudinal stiffeners in order to reflect the minimum strength required by the formulation. A first order reliability formulation is adopted, and stochastic models proposed in the literature are used to quantify the uncertainty in the relevant design variables. A sample of five oil tankers representative of the range of application of the IACS-CSR design rules is considered. The effect of corrosion in the implicit safety levels is quantified based on the three corrosion levels of the Net Thickness Approach (NTA) adopted in the design rules. Sensitivity analyses are also performed to quantify the relative contribution or importance of each design random variable to the implicit safety levels.     

耐压壳体局部腐蚀稳定性计算方法

文章提出了可以计及局部腐蚀损伤影响的等效层合单元方法,建立了局部腐蚀等效弹性模量计算公式,针对耐压壳体局部腐蚀深度、腐蚀强度、腐蚀范围和初挠度进行了系列稳定性数值计算,通过计算结果的对比分析提出了将局部腐蚀等效为附加多波挠度的稳定性近似计算方法,给出了附加挠度幅值的计算公式,可用于耐压壳体局部腐蚀的稳定性分析。     

CFRP修复的FPSO点蚀船体梁极限强度分析

采用非线性有限元法对中拱和中垂工况条件下碳纤维增强聚合物(Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer, CFRP)修复的浮式生产储卸油装置(Floating Production Storage and Offloading, FPSO)点蚀船体梁极限强度进行仿真分析。对比FPSO的完整船体梁、点蚀船体梁和CFRP修复的点蚀船体梁的中拱极限弯矩和中垂极限弯矩，分析CFRP对FPSO点蚀船体梁的修复效果，并分析胶层失效规律。结果表明，CFRP可为船舶的高效修复提供一种新的方式。     

Reliability analysis of ovalized deep-water pipelines with corrosion defects

The accurate assessment of the remaining strength of corroded pipes is a subject that has been increasingly investigated over the past decades. This is because of the risk of significant social, economic, and environmental effects that may be caused by an accident. The finite element method has been successfully used to predict the collapse pressure considering external load. It was also used in this study. The literature primarily focused on the corroded pipes subjected to internal pressure. In this study, the out-of-roundness (ovalization) of the pipe was considered to evaluate the collapse pressure. Uncertainties should be incorporated into a computational model to assess the reliability of corroded pipes. Three methods for evaluation of the probability of failure were used: the first-order reliability method (FORM), traditional Monte Carlo (MC), and a new proposed methodology that combines MC results with the kernel density estimation method (MCkde). The probability of failure of ovalized corroded pipes subject to external pressure was computed. The results exhibited a good agreement between FORM and MCkde method. The statistical importance of each random variable was observed and the results were compared with those from intact ovalized pipes. The computation cost of the MC method with numerical simulation limits its use to the application under study. Solutions using the FORM and MCkde methods exhibited good agreement with those of the full MC method. However, the computational effort of the latter was independent of the stochastic dimension, and it was a derivative-free method. As expected, in general, the solutions based on empirical methods were conservative.     

Compressive strength of tubular members with localized pitting damage considering variation of corrosion features

Localized pitting corrosion often occurs on marine and offshore structures in the form of patch corrosion with great uncertainties in the location, size and shape. The variation of corrosion features affects ultimate strength of tubular members significantly, but it is still not well understood. This paper presents a numerical study on tubular members of diverse slenderness ratios to clarify the localized pitting effect on ultimate strength. Numerical analyses were performed based on novel models of pitted members that were calibrated against benchmark column tests. Corrosion pits were randomly introduced on the local outside surfaces of members via stochastic simulation, forming corrosion patches varied in the location, size and shape. Numerical results obtained were regressed to propose a unified empirical formula to predict ultimate strength. It turned out that the shape of the corrosion patch has a significant influence on the ultimate strength. The shape change of the patch can alter failure modes of medium length columns. The reduction of ultimate strength is closely related to the shape ratio of the patch besides the volume loss of corroded material. The unified empirical formula incorporating the shape ratio and the volume loss shows a good ability to predict the experimental results.     

Numerical investigation on the ultimate strength of stiffened cylindrical shells considering residual stresses and shakedown

In this paper, the effects of residual stresses on the ultimate strength of stiffened cylinders are numerically investigated with an emphasis on shakedown which might occur during the service of these structures. Residual stresses caused by two types of actions, namely, cold bending and welding, are simulated with simplified approaches in numerical analysis. Cold bending stresses are simulated by simulating cold rolling and elastic springback until the desired curvature for cylindrical shell is obtained. Welding is simulated by applying cooling down to a certain temperature on the elements adjacent to stiffener-shell joints to obtain weld-shrinkage with realistic magnitudes. Six small-scale externally pressurized ring-stiffened cylinder models are utilized to evaluate the appropriateness of the method for inclusion of welding residual stresses in numerical analysis by comparing the experimental and numerical results. Ultimate strength analyses are then performed for a reference ring-stiffened cylinder model under radial pressure and stringer-stiffened cylinder under axial loading. To assess the effect of shakedown, after applying cyclic compressive loading to the ring-stiffened cylinder model, the level of stress relief and the change in the ultimate strength are evaluated.