超大型浮体柔性连接器疲劳强度模型试验

为了保证超大型浮体的作业安全,需要精确评估连接器结构疲劳强度。文章针对一种由尼龙柔性夹层和环肋加强圆管轴构成的铰接式连接器,开展了疲劳强度模型试验,测量了热点应力、疲劳寿命和裂纹扩展。考虑接触、柔性层以及开孔的影响,采用三维有限元方法计算了连接器结构应力,分别基于S-N曲线和裂纹扩展,给出了柔性连接器疲劳寿命评估方法。比较分析表明,计算得到的连接器结构应力和疲劳寿命与模型试验结果吻合,文中方法可用于柔性连接器结构疲劳强度设计

Model test of fatigue strength of a flexible connector of very large floating structures

In order to insure operational safety of very large floating structures (VLFS), it is necessary to ac-curately evaluate fatigue strength of connectors. In this paper, model test of fatigue strength of a hinge con-nector, consisting of nylon sandwich and a pipe shaft strengthened by circular frames, is conducted and hot spot stress, fatigue life and crack propagation are measured. Structural stress of the connector is also cal-culated by a 3D finite element method considering the effect of contact, flexible sandwich and hole and e-valuate method of fatigue strength of the connector is also given based on theory of S-N curve and crack propagation separately. Comparative analysis shows that structural stress and fatigue life calculated agree well with those of the model test and the evaluate method can be used to design fatigue strength of flexible connectors.