On the accuracy of fracture estimation in collision analysis of ship and offshore structures

This paper discusses the fracture response in a collision scenario together with the discretization of the model, and it compares various approaches suggested by current design rules and proposed by researchers using a validation approach with different model scales; including material tests, indentation experiments and simulations of an actual full-scale collision event. Calibration of the fracture criteria is performed based only on data that can safely be assumed to be available in a design situation, namely, those from a uniaxial tensile test. This approach reveals the behavior of each criterion as it would be in a design situation and avoids the possibility of calibration toward a known solution. The robustness of the fracture criteria, i.e., their ability to simulate fracture given varying stress states and mesh sizes, are investigated based on simulations of experiments. The statistical variations for the various criteria are shown.     

Influence of the design constraints on the thickness optimization of glass panes to achieve lightweight insulating glass units in cruise ships

The increasing complexity and size in cruise ships demands for lightweight structures and practical but accurate design methods. Conventionally, the focus has been on the steel parts of the ship, as they make most of its weight. However, the proportions of other materials are increasing. Therefore, this study attempts to provide better understanding how one could reach the lightweight designs of insulating glass units (IGUs) in ships. These are windows where at least two glass panes are separated by a hermetically sealed cavity. They are thin-walled structures that benefit not only from the geometrically nonlinear behavior, but also from the load sharing. Considering these effects, their behavior is studied using the nonlinear Finite Element Method and Particle Swarm Optimization. Different design criteria are imposed on the thickness determination of the glass panes with different shapes. Rectangular, triangular, and circular shapes are considered. The results show that the triangular shapes have the least weight for a given area when the deflection criterion is the dominating one. When maximum principal stress is the thickness defining criterion, the shapes perform almost equally well. The ratio between the pane thicknesses had the most influence on the behavior of the IGU. As it increases, i.e., one pane is significantly thicker than the other, the load sharing percentage drops, but it provides the most lightweight solution. Closer it is to 1, more equally the structural stresses are divided between the panes, i.e., redundancy is achieved. Finally, it is possible to establish a simple but effective method for the thickness determination of these IGUs using the results of this study. However, more work is required, including numerical analysis and experimental testing.     

Towards a unified methodology for the simulation of rupture in collision and grounding of ships

The aim of the work is the definition of a procedure for the numerical simulation of the response of ship structures under accidental loading conditions, which suffer various different modes of failure, such as tension, bending, tearing and crushing and in particular to investigate the effect of material modeling, i.e. material curve and rupture criterion as well as mesh size and strain rate effect on the results. To this end, different material models and simulation techniques were used for the simulation of eighteen indentation tests conducted by different research groups. The simulations were performed using the explicit finite element code ABAQUS 6.10-2. The tests refer to the quasi-static and dynamic transverse and in-plane loading of various thin walled structures which represent parts of a ship structure. Three rupture criteria are incorporated into VUMAT subroutine, which interacts with the explicit finite element code and refers to an isotropic hardening material that follows the J₂ flow theory assuming plane stress conditions, in order to investigate the prediction and propagation of rupture. The focus is on investigating whether it is possible to define a unified methodology, which is appropriate for the simulation of all different tests. Consistency in the numerical results is observed with the use of an equivalent plastic strain criterion, in which formulation a cutoff value for triaxialities below −1/3 is included.     

Numerical simulation of fatigue crack propagation under biaxial tensile loadings with phase differences

Fatigue crack propagation under the biaxial tensile loading, which loading directions are normal and parallel to the initial crack position, is highlighted in this study. Most of in-service structures and vessels are subjected to many types of loading. Generally, these loadings have different axial components with different phases. However, the structural integrities of structures and vessels are evaluated according to design codes based on theoretical and experimental investigations under a uniaxial loading condition. Most of these codes are based on the S–N curves approach. An approach that does not use S–N curves has been favored by researchers, with the fracture mechanics approach preferred for evaluating the fatigue life of structures. An advanced fracture mechanics approach was developed based on the Re-tensile Plastic zone Generating (RPG) stress criterion for fatigue crack propagation. In this study, fatigue crack propagation tests under biaxial loading with six different phase and loading conditions are performed and the effect of the phase difference under biaxial loading is evaluated. A numerical simulation method of fatigue crack propagation based on the RPG stress criterion under different biaxial loading phase conditions is presented and compared to measured data.     

海船断裂控制设计准则

传统的断裂控制设计准则，如脆性转变温度准则或最低工作温度准则等，在实际断裂评定中，有时会遇到困难，其原因在于建立这些准则的条件与实际结构的服役条件存在差异。本文在分析材料断裂韧度的温度效应和载荷速率效应的基础上，根据海船工作条件构造了断裂特征分析图（Fracture Characteristic Analysis Map),提出了一个计及材料性能（断裂韧度，屈服强度）、环境因素（服役温度，载荷速率）和结构特点（板厚及平面应变约束）在内的海船断裂控制设计准则。应用该准则可根据对海船工作特性的要求，选择材料和预测结构的断裂行为，从而为防断选材、结构完整性评定、可靠性分析以及失效分析、预测、预防提供了定量的依据。该准则克服了传统断裂控制准则的局限性，可以全方位地模拟海船结构特点及工作条件，具有更满意的适用性。     

AFM试样复合加载下的计算断裂分析(英文)

Fracture processes in ship-building structures are in many cases of a 3-D character.A finite element (FE) model of an all fracture mode (AFM) specimen was built for the study of 3-D mixed mode crack fracture behavior including modes I,II,and III.The stress intensity factors (SIFs) were calculated by the modified virtual crack closure integral (MVCCI) method,and the crack initiation angle assessment was based on a recently developed 3-D fracture criterion––the Richard criterion.It was shown that the FE model of the AFM-specimen is applicable for investigations under general mixed mode loading conditions,and the computational results of crack initiation angles are in agreement with some available experimental findings.Thus,the applicability of the FE model of the AFM-specimen for mixed mode loading conditions and the validity of the Richard criterion can be demonstrated.     

加筋板穿透数值仿真中网格尺寸对失效应变的影响分析研究

运用数值仿真分析碰撞过程时,基于最大等效塑性应变失效准则确定的材料失效应变取值与网格尺寸具有明显的依赖关系,因此,研究碰撞载荷下加筋板网格尺寸对失效应变取值的影响对于评估加筋板架的耐撞性及开展耐撞性结构设计具有重要意义。文中基于LS-DYNA非线性有限元分析软件对光板及加筋板穿透过程分别进行仿真分析,以国外学者相应准静态穿透试验的结果为参照,探讨了加筋板与光板的有限元网格尺寸和失效应变之间的关系,同时对是否有必要考虑骨材与板壳之间的焊缝进行了探究。研究表明:加筋板与光板的失效应变取值存在明显的差异,确定加筋板材料失效应变取值时,应优先参考适用于加筋板网格尺寸与失效应变取值的关系曲线;在决定是否考虑加筋板结构中的焊缝时需要结合网格尺寸与焊缝等效单元的相对大小进行判断。     

基于Star-CCM+的摆式波浪能装置水动力性能研究（英文）

A two-dimensional numerical Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD) model is established on the basis of viscous CFD theory to investigate the motion response and power absorption performance of a bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy converter(WEC)under regular wave conditions. The convergence study of mesh size and time step is performed to ensure that wave height and motion response are sufficiently accurate. Wave height results reveal that the attenuation of wave height along the wave tank is less than 5% only if the suitable mesh size and time step are selected. The model proposed in this work is verified against published experimental and numerical models. The effects of mechanical damping, wave height, wave frequency, and water depth on the motion response, power generation, and energy conversion efficiency of the flap-type WEC are investigated. The selection of the appropriate mechanical damping of the WEC is crucial for the optimal extraction of wave power. The optimal mechanical damping can be readily predicted by using potential flow theory. It can then be verified by applying CFD numerical results. In addition, the motion response and the energy conversion efficiency of the WEC decrease as the incident wave height increases because the strengthened nonlinear effect of waves intensifies energy loss. Moreover, the energy conversion efficiency of the WEC decreases with increasing water depth and remains constant as the water depth reaches a critical value. Therefore, the selection of the optimal parameters during the design process is necessary to ensure that the WEC exhibits the maximum energy conversion efficiency.     

Experimental and numerical modelling of ductile crack propagation in large-scale shell structures

This paper presents a combined experimental–numerical procedure for development and calibration of macroscopic crack propagation criteria in large-scale shell structures. A novel experimental set-up is described in which a mode-I crack can be driven 400 mm through a 20(+) mm thick plate under fully plastic and controlled conditions. The test specimen can be deformed either in combined in-plane bending and extension or in pure extension. Experimental results are described for 5 and 10 mm thick aluminium and steel plates. By performing an inverse finite-element analysis of the experimental results where the simulated crack growth is forced to correspond to the experimental observations, empirical criteria for ductile crack propagation emerge very clearly. Using the experiments with edge crack specimens (ECS) in combined in-plane bending and extension, crack propagation criteria are developed for steel and aluminium plates, mainly as curves showing the critical element deformation versus the shell element size. These derived crack propagation criteria are then validated against a separate set of experiments considering centre crack specimens (CCS) which have a different crack-tip constraint. The applicability of the often-used equivalent strain criterion is discussed versus a more rationally based criterion which takes into account the stress tri-axiality. A large-scale grounding experiment is also simulated showing very good agreement with measurements. The performance of the proposed model is in general good and it is believed that the presented results and experimental–numerical calibration procedure can be of use in practical finite-element simulations of collision and grounding events with the use of shell elements. As discussed, the paper provides a clean framework for further development of macroscopic crack propagation criteria in large-scale plate structures.     

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.     

基于Orcaflex的张力腿网箱水动力分析

基于凝集质量法和等效网目法对网衣进行等效处理,利用大型水动力分析软件Orcaflex建立张力腿网箱模型,求解分析在波浪作用,海流作用以及波、流联合作用三种外载荷情况下张力腿网箱浮于水面以及下沉两种工况的网箱系泊缆有效张力变化情况。分析结果可作为张力腿网箱安全建设的理论依据并对张力腿网箱模型在海洋工程中的应用具有一定参考价值。     

失效准则在船舶碰撞破坏中的应用研究

船舶结构冲击破坏一直都是学者们研究的重点,而碰撞破坏是船舶结构在生命周期内最有可能遭受的冲击破坏形式。因为船舶惯性质量大,在很低的速度下,碰撞也会造成船舶损毁的严重后果。作为判定结构是否失效的关键依据,失效准则对碰撞仿真分析结果的准确性有着至关重要的影响。本文针对典型的船体双层壳结构,结合试验数据,对比尖刀型撞头碰撞仿真下双层壳结构的塑性变形,对碰撞有限元模型及材料本构参数进行验证。在此基础之上重点研究GL、RTCL和JC工程上3种常用金属延性失效准则在碰撞破坏仿真分析中的应用。结果显示:板壳结构在碰撞载荷下,撞击中心的应力三轴度在0.3~0.6之间,考虑应力三轴度的RTCL和JC失效准则更能真实反应板的撞击破坏。而船舶碰撞多属于低速碰撞,应变率效应影响较小。     

基于累积塑性破坏的船体板低周疲劳裂纹扩展寿命研究

船体板的总体断裂破坏往往是低周疲劳破坏与累积塑性破坏两种破坏模式耦合作用的结果,故在船体板低周疲劳裂纹扩展寿命评估中,其基于累积塑性应变的船体板低周疲劳裂纹扩展寿命分析能够更为符合实际地评估船体板的总体断裂承载能力。船体板低周疲劳裂纹扩展寿命由宏观可检测裂纹扩展到临界裂纹而发生破坏这段区间的寿命。船体在实际航行中受到多次波浪外载作用而使其进入塑性变形不断累积或不断反复的破坏过程,并最终导致低周疲劳裂纹的萌生及扩展而使结构破坏,其破坏形式分别对应于增量塑性变形破坏（或棘轮效应）或交变塑性变形破坏（或低周疲劳）。局部塑性变形的累积会加剧低周疲劳裂纹不断扩展,因而基于累积塑性破坏研究船体板低周疲劳扩展寿命更为合理。文中以船体板单次循环载荷后塑性应变大小为基础,依据累积递增塑性破坏过程及弹塑性理论,计算经过N次变幅循环载荷后船体板累积塑性应变值,结合循环应力—应变曲线获得相应的稳定的迟滞回线,确定裂纹尖端应力应变曲线及确定相关塑性参量并依据选取的断裂判据判定裂纹扩展。建立循环载荷下基于累积递增塑性破坏的船体板低周疲劳裂纹扩展寿命的计算模型考虑应力比对此裂纹扩展寿命计算模型的影响。由该方法计算出的疲劳裂纹扩展寿命将对正确预估船舶结构的低周疲劳强度从而提高船舶安全性有重要意义。     

Experimental investigation of nonlinear dynamic tension in mooring lines

Mooring lines are one of the most important parts of spar platforms. In this work, experimental investigation was carried out to obtain the dynamic tension and discover the nonlinear characters while a mooring line transfers from taut to taut–slack. Results show that, when system parameters change, the mooring line system may transform from one steady state to another, accompanied by tension skip that is 5 times the former steady tension and twice the latter steady tension. Such skip tension may result in platform breakage. For the entire cable structure, the effects of system parameters are very important and need further theoretical research. The presented research lays the foundation for further studies on this transforming mechanism and for optimization of engineering designs.     

Crack growth direction effects on corrosion-fatigue behaviour of offshore wind turbine steel weldments

In this study corrosion-fatigue tests have been conducted on fracture mechanics specimens extracted from an S355 G10+M structural steel welded plate. The tests have been performed on compact tension specimens with the crack tip located in the heat affected zone. The corrosion-fatigue test results from this study have been compared with the data available on the base metal as well as air tests on the same material. Moreover, the obtained results have been compared with the corrosion-fatigue data available in the literature on a wide range of steels and also the fatigue trends for welded joints in free-corrosion condition recommended in the BS7910 Standard. The effect of the specimen orientation, with respect to the weld region, is also examined in this study and it has been found that higher corrosion-fatigue crack growth rates are generally observed in the tests with 0° orientation. The results have also shown that the corrosive environment has significant effects on the fatigue crack growth acceleration at the beginning of the tests; however, as the crack propagates, the environmental damage effect on crack growth behaviour becomes less pronounced. The results presented in this study are discussed in terms of improvement in the structural integrity assessment of offshore wind turbine monopiles.     

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.     

Strength and deformability of corroded steel plates under quasi-static tensile load

The objective of this study was to estimate the strength and deformability of corroded steel plates under quasi-static uniaxial tension. In order to accurately simulate this problem, we first estimated the true stress–strain relationship of a flat steel plate by introducing a vision sensor system to the deformation measurements in tensile tests. The measured true stress–stain relationship was then applied to a series of nonlinear implicit three-dimensional finite element analyses using commercial code LS-DYNA. The strength and deformability of steel plates with various pit sizes, degrees of pitting intensity, and general corrosion were estimated both experimentally and numerically. The failure strain in relation to the finite element mesh size used in the analyses was clarified. Two different steels having yield ratios of 0.657 and 0.841 were prepared to examine the material effects on corrosion damage. The strength and deformability did not show a clear dependence on the yield ratios of the present two materials, whereas a clear dependence was shown with respect to the surface configuration such as the minimum cross-sectional area of the specimens, the maximum depth of the pit cusp from the mean corrosion diminution level, and pitting patterns. Empirical formulae for the reduction of deformability and the reduction of energy absorption of pitted plates were proposed which may be useful in strength assessment when examining the structural integrity of aged corroded structures.     

基于重新建模法的滑行艇阻力数值计算

针对采用重叠网格法对滑行艇阻力数值计算时,采用不同子域的方式会增加网格数量,且在2套网格交接位置通过插值实现数据交换会引入额外的误差,从而导致计算精度和计算效率不高的问题,引入动态边界实现的网格方法,即重新建模法。借助计算流体动力学(CFD)软件STARCCM+,分别采用2种网格方法对一模型尺度滑行艇进行数值模拟,通过对试验结果进行对比和不确定度分析,对数值方法进行确认和验证。在此基础上,采用重叠网格方法和重新建模法对不同航速滑行艇进行绕流场数值模拟。并进行阻力和航态数值结果对比。结果表明,与重叠网格方法相比,重新建模方法的计算精度和计算效率均所有提高。     

Vibrations of imperfect ship plating

This paper deals with vibration analysis of plates in marine structures. It is the main purpose of the paper to demonstrate that in order to obtain reliable frequency predictions it is necessary to include in the vibration analysis the effects of the unavoidable imperfections caused by welding or lateral fluid pressure. Furthermore, practical procedures for including these effects are presented. Simple algebraic expressions are derived for determination of small amplitude natural frequencies of vibration of initially imperfect rectangular plates subjected to uniaxial in-plane loads. The theoretical results show close agreement with experimental results available in the literature. For plating of marine structures with typical welding induced geometric imperfections and residual stresses it is shown that the lowest natural frequency of the unloaded imperfect plate can be twice as high as that of the perfect plate. For vibration analyses of plates submerged in a liquid the importance of taking into account deflections and membrane stresses caused by the hydrostatic pressure is demonstrated.     

船后螺旋桨空泡数值预报及试验对比

文章研究了湍流模型对螺旋桨空泡计算结果的影响,结果表明常用的湍流模型均可较好地预报螺旋桨空泡形态。采用RANS求解器,结合SST k-ω湍流模型和Sauer空化模型,数值模拟了船后螺旋桨空泡。用对称面边界条件处理自由表面,滑移网格技术处理螺旋桨旋转,时间步长为1°。螺旋桨空泡模拟结果与大型循环水槽试验结果进行了对比,虽然由于计算网格稀疏的原因没能捕捉到螺旋桨梢涡空泡,但螺旋桨空泡随空间角度的动态行为与试验观察结果吻合较好。