Structural mechanics for design of grouted connections in monopile wind turbine structures

Over the last 30 years it has become standard practice to connect offshore oil and gas structures to their foundation piles using cylindrical shaped grouted connections with shear keys or weld beads. Circumferential shear keys, or weld beads, are provided around the outside of the piles and the inside of the pile sleeves in jacket structures to transfer forces through the grouted connection. The same methodology is also now being used by the wind energy industry to connect wind turbine support structures to their foundation piles. These structures are subjected to rather severe dynamic loading, it is therefore important to document the fatigue capacity of these grouted connections. As a direct result of this need, a joint industry project focusing on the capacity of cylindrical shaped grouted connections with shear keys was initiated by DNV in January 2011 and continued through until completion in May 2012. This project has involved fatigue testing of grouted test specimens in the laboratory, finite element analyses and assessment and development of a recommended design methodology. The design methodology includes the Ultimate Limit State and the Fatigue Limit State. Fatigue testing of full-scale specimens would require very large test setup and hydraulic actuators. Therefore special box specimens were designed with a representative radial stiffness similar to that of large diameter connections, with both full size grout thickness and geometry of the shear keys. An analytical approach for design of these specimens and for the design of grouted connections in monopiles is presented in this paper.     

客滚船车辆甲板疲劳强度评估

针对《船体结构疲劳强度指南》中关于疲劳强度的分析不适用于客滚船车辆甲板疲劳强度评估的情况,参照《钢桥疲劳设计》,制定出一种适用于车辆甲板疲劳强度的计算方法,以期为内河船车辆甲板的设计与审图提供借鉴。     

从短期测量数据来生成疲劳载荷的一种实用算法的开发

疲劳寿命预报需要知道在全设计寿命期内的疲劳载荷时间历程或载荷谱的信息。但是,在很多情况下,实际测量或模拟的载荷时间历程与设计寿命相比只包含很短的一段时间。如何将测量的数据外插到更长的时间段以及如何计数出每周的信息是疲劳分析中必须要解决的两个重要问题。文中的主要目的就是介绍一种将实测载荷外插的方法以及雨流计数法。这两种方法均被编成相应的计算程序。一条水面船的实测数据用作例子来演示计算过程。最后对如何采用这两种方法来构建疲劳设计载荷问题也提出了思路。     

基于统一的疲劳寿命预报方法（UFLP）的深潜器载人舱疲劳可靠性分析

疲劳是承受循环载荷的金属结构最重要的失效机制,现已有多种金属疲劳寿命预报方法。实际的设计、制造、加工和操作等工序环节中总是存在不确定性,这些不确定性的影响将在结构的疲劳寿命中富集,为此发展了疲劳可靠性分析。该文讨论了将疲劳可靠性分析方法和统一的疲劳寿命预报方法（UFLP）相结合的可行性,为海洋结构物的安全使用提供参考。文中的极限状态方程是基于统一的疲劳寿命预报方法（UFLP）得到的,并讨论了其中各参数对疲劳寿命的影响;针对一组TC4-ELI的疲劳裂纹扩展数据,分别采用Monte-Carlo法和JC法开展了疲劳可靠性分析,两种分析方法得到的结果彼此符合得较好。     

FPSO延寿疲劳评估和疲劳寿命改善设计

以“南海胜利”FPSO原作业区的第三次延寿项目为研究对象，对纵骨与横舱壁、横向强框的连接节点，舱内桁材大肘板趾端节点，模块支墩与主甲板连接处的肘板趾端节点，以及与内转塔装置连接处的结构节点，分别采用了简化疲劳方法、热点应力法及谱疲劳分析法，对不同部位节点进行疲劳评估，并针对疲劳高危节点，通过合理的结构形式改造，进行结构的疲劳寿命改善设计。本文旨在探索疲劳评估方法与寿命改善设计在FPSO延寿改造中的应用。     

海洋结构物疲劳裂纹扩展寿命的一种工程预报方法

海洋结构物疲劳寿命的准确预报对海洋结构安全具有重要意义。基于裂纹扩展的寿命预报相比于常规的基于累积损伤理论的寿命预报方法,能够考虑载荷次序、初始缺陷等重要因素的影响,各大船级社极力推进裂纹扩展理论在海洋工程中的应用。文章从裂纹扩展法则、应力强度因子求解、疲劳载荷谱模拟上对裂纹扩展理论的工程应用进行研究,试图找出准确、合理且相对简单的方法。结合裂纹扩展的单一曲线模型、基于有限元子模型技术的应力强度因子求法以及基于谱分析的疲劳载荷谱产生方法,对某半潜式钻井平台典型焊接节点进行基于裂纹扩展疲劳寿命预报,并讨论了初始裂纹尺寸对疲劳寿命的影响。结果表明,该半潜平台焊接结构符合设计寿命的要求,初始裂纹尺寸对疲劳寿命影响很大,可为海洋结构物基于裂纹扩展的疲劳寿命预报提供参考。     

Structural stability of polymer matrix composite panels in fire

Development in advanced composite fabrication technology offers the clear prospect of cost effective application of polymer matrix composites for large load-bearing structures. However, polymer matrix composites can be severely degradated under the thermal condition caused by fire. This paper addresses the compressive load-bearing capacity for polymer matrix composite panels in naval structures and civil infrastructures under the combined thermal–mechanical condition. The failure modes arising from structural instability for single skin and sandwich panels in such combined thermal–mechanical condition are the focus in this study. The thermal field under fire heating and the degradation of mechanical properties with elevated temperature are discussed. Analytical solutions for these mechanical failure modes are presented for design considerations. The approach to the development of a quantitative methodology for fire protection design is discussed in the context of the analyses and the experiments. Design diagrams are constructed to design mechanical loads for given fire protection time, and on the opposite, to design fire protection time for given mechanical loads.     

Stress concentration factors at welds in pipelines and tanks subjected to internal pressure and axial force

In this paper, analytical expressions for stress concentration factors in pipes subjected to internal pressure and axial force are derived for a number of design cases based on classical shell theory. The effect of fabrication tolerances in simple butt welds is assessed. Analyses based on classical mechanics are compared with results from axisymmetric finite element analyses for verification of the presented methodology. Stress concentration factors are presented for circumferential butt welds in pipes welded together from pipes with different thicknesses, welds at buckling arrestors, welds at flanged connections in pipelines, and welds at ring stiffeners on the inside and the outside of the pipes. It also includes stress concentration factors at end closures in pipes for gas storage. Larger pipes are fabricated from plates with a longitudinal weld. This fabrication process introduces out-of-roundness in the pipes. The actual out-of-roundness is a function of internal pressure. An analytical expression for the bending stress in the pipe wall due to this out-of-roundness is presented. The derived stress concentration factors can be used together with a hot spot stress S–N curve for calculation of fatigue damage.     

Environmental lumping for efficient fatigue assessment of large-diameter monopile wind turbines

Fatigue damage is one of the governing factors for the design of offshore wind turbines. However, the full fatigue assessment is a time-consuming task. During the design process, the site-specific environmental parameters are usually condensed by a lumping process to reduce the computational effort. Preservation of fatigue damage during lumping requires an accurate consideration of the met-ocean climate and the dynamic response of the structure. Two lumping methods (time-domain and frequency-domain) have been evaluated for a monopile-based 10 MW offshore wind turbine, both based on damage-equivalent contour lines. Fatigue damage from lumped load cases was compared to full long-term fatigue assessment. The lumping methods had an accuracy of 94–98% for the total long-term fatigue damage and 90% for individual wind speed classes, for aligned wind and waves. Fatigue damage was preserved with the same accuracy levels for the whole support structure. A significant reduction of computational time (93%) was achieved compared to a full long-term fatigue assessment. For the cases with 30° and 60° wind-wave misalignment, there was a mean underestimation of approximately 10%. Variations in penetration depth did not affect the selection of the lumped sea-state parameters. This work presents a straightforward method for the selection of damage-equivalent lumped load cases, which can adequately preserve long-term fatigue damage throughout the support structure, providing considerable reduction of computational effort.     

42000吨散货船结构疲劳可靠性评估

本文从可靠性概念出发，对沪东造船厂建造的42000吨散货船甲板角隅结构疲劳强度进行安全评估。评估中考虑了疲劳数据的离散性、应力分析的误差以及波浪载荷的随机性等不确定因素，结果表明，该船甲板角隅的疲劳可靠性水平在0．98以上，即失效概率小于0．02，较好地反映了该船的实际情况。该评估方法也可用于集装箱船甲板大开口疲劳安全评估。选择合适的可靠性水平，保证角隅恰当的疲劳强度，避免角隅疲劳裂纹的产生，对集装箱船结构安全具有实际意义。     

Experimental and finite element analysis of fatigue strength for 300 mm2 copper power conductor

The fatigue strength of a 300 mm² stranded copper conductor was investigated experimentally and by finite element (FE) analysis. An analytical model was also developed and validated. Wires taken from the outer layer of the conductor were fatigue tested in tension–tension loading and compared with similar data for wires taken from a 95 mm² conductor. The wire cross section was deformed due to the compacting process that was applied during fabrication. When corrected for stress concentrations due to the deformation the data for the two sets of wire fell within the same scatter-band. Full scale testing was carried out in a specially designed rig with constant tensile load and reversed displacement controlled bending with a fixed curvature variation. The loading is a simulation of the loading of a power cable hanging from a floating vessel through a bellmouth. Conductors were tested in two states; dry and lubricated. A finite element model was established for the copper conductor. The model was formulated by a combination of elastic beam and beam-contact elements that included the effects of friction. The effect of local bending due to contact forces was included in the model. Two contact conditions were investigated; the point (trellis) contact between adjacent layers of wire and the inline contact within each layer and between the first layer (centre wire) and the second layer. The FE model was validated by a calibration test of a full scale conductor, and by sensitivity studies varying the size and the number of elements of the model. Fatigue analysis of the conductor was carried out, based on the S–N curve for individual wires. Taking into account the effects of friction and local bending, agreement was obtained between predicted and experimental fatigue strength of the conductor, for the FE model as well as the analytical model.     

Extensive study on the design loads used for strength assessment of tanker and bulk carrier structures

ClassNK has undertaken wide-ranging basic research covering many aspects related to the safety of ship structures, including design loads, structural analysis, strength assessment of buckling, collapse, and fatigue, and rational corrosion margins to develop new design standards which have transparency and consistency. Among the wide-ranging basic research, this article summarizes the results of extensive work on the design loads used for strength assessments of tanker and bulk carrier structures. The main aim of the research was to develop practical estimation methods of design loads with rational technical backgrounds relating to the actual loads acting on the primary structural members of tankers and bulk carriers. During this study, we proposed the following methodology. Design sea states that closely resemble the actual sea states which are considered to be the most severe for hull structures. Find practical estimation methods for the design sea states by parametric studies using the results of series calculations on representative tankers and bulk carriers. Find practical estimation methods for design regular waves which will result in the same level of stresses as those induced in irregular waves under the design sea states. We also briefly introduced some practical estimation methods for the design loads, such as ship motions, accelerations, hull-girder bending moments, and hydrodynamic pressures that are induced under design regular waves. The findings in this study have been summarized and implemented in the new design standards for tanker and bulk carrier structures.Updated from the Japanese original which won the 2003 SNAJ prize (J Soc Nav Archit Jpn 2002; 191:195–207; 2002; 191:208–220; and 2002; 192:723–733)     

基于共同规范的散货船疲劳分析

疲劳是船体损坏的主要因素之一,在设计建造阶段提高结构物疲劳寿命具有重要意义。结合船舶在建造和营运中的经验与反馈,以船级社共同规范为指导,对散货船船体结构的疲劳分析进行了探讨。分析了二维情况下的纵骨疲劳,同时利用三维有限元方法对船体主要支撑构件的疲劳强度进行了分析和总结,对影响疲劳强度的一些关键因素进行了讨论。     

海上养殖平台系泊系统耦合动力响应与疲劳计算

以某管架式海上养殖平台为例,计算平台-系泊系统耦合时域动力响应与系泊系统疲劳寿命,分析锚链拉力统计特性、平台运动规律、疲劳损伤成分比例等因素的影响。研究发现系泊系统动力响应具有明显的非线性特征,定常漂移力对本平台系泊系统极限载荷有重要影响,而波频振荡是产生疲劳损伤的主要因素。计算结果表明,系泊缆能够有效限制平台运动,且疲劳寿命满足设计要求,可为类似平台的设计和安全性评估提供参考。     

考虑腐蚀与疲劳损伤的船体总纵极限强度与可靠性分析

本文定量考虑了腐蚀与疲劳两类损伤对船体结构随时间变化的情况,并建立了船体总纵极限强度与时变可靠性的计算方法。对一条实船的分析说明,腐蚀和疲劳损伤虽然短时间内的破坏并不显著,但积累到一定程度,对船体结构的影响相当大。采用可靠性评估的方法,对船体总纵强度的安全水平可作出合理的评价。     

基于工程简化的Topside管廊结构疲劳寿命分析

对“船形”海洋工程结构的疲劳评估方法进行了详细讨论,并结合有限元法,采用工程简化实用的疲劳评估方法,对某海洋工程Topside管廊结构的疲劳损伤和疲劳寿命进行计算分析,验证了该结构抗疲劳设计的合理性。此疲劳分析过程简单方便,可为类似工程结构的疲劳寿命分析提供参考。     

Prediction of crack growth in 350WT steel subjected to constant amplitude with over- and under-loads using a modified wheeler approach

Previous efforts have suggested that tensile overloading may cause significant crack growth retardation. On the other hand, crack growth acceleration may occur under the influence of compressive underloading. In practice, however, the effects of compressive underloading are often neglected. An experimental/analytical and computational investigation was therefore undertaken to evaluate the effects of both tensile and compressive overloading on the fatigue crack growth behavior in 350WT steel.Simplicity and accuracy in fatigue crack growth prediction is of extreme importance. One of the most commonly used models for crack growth prediction under variable amplitude loading is that of Wheeler. Unfortunately, overload effects involving compression cannot be handled by the model in its current form. Using a computational methodology, an effective plastic zone was established as a mean to incorporate the sequence effects, thus resulting in creation of a modified Wheeler approach. Fatigue life predictions provided by the revised approach/model agree reasonably well with experimental results.     

半潜平台结构疲劳寿命评估方法比较

为了研究各种疲劳评估方法对海洋结构物疲劳寿命评估结果的影响,利用S-N曲线方法和断裂力学方法分别计算了半潜式海洋平台的疲劳寿命,分析比较了二者计算结果的差别.同时比较了疲劳载荷预报中谱分析方法和设计波法的计算结果,分析研究半潜式海洋平台结构关键节点疲劳应力计算中设计波和载荷参数的确定方法,为半潜式海洋平台的疲劳寿命评估提供依据.经过比较分析,认为S-N曲线方法和断裂力学方法应用于评估海洋结构物疲劳寿命均是可行的,使用设计波法来计算半潜式海洋平台横撑与立柱交点处结构疲劳寿命时应该以60°浪向的横向扭矩为特征设计波浪载荷来决定设计波参数比较合理.     

C型独立液舱疲劳载荷及工况组合研究

对C型独立液舱的疲劳载荷及工况组合进行了讨论,结合C型液舱的设计原理,给出了疲劳计算工况及组合因子,基于修订版IGC定义的三维加速度椭球法给出了对应最大应力幅值的疲劳载荷计算方法,并介绍了IACS推荐使用的载荷分布模型。对于C型独立液舱结构抗疲劳设计具有重要参考意义。     

The subjective measurement of seafarers’ fatigue levels and mental symptoms

Human error is the most important factor causing many ship accidents in maritime industry despite advanced technology and international regulations. Fatigue in seafarers is a well-known problem and a serious cause of ship accidents. There are many factors unique to the marine environment raising the potential for fatigue at sea. Due to the difficulties in measuring human fatigue and also in suggesting fatigue to be a root cause of accident, it is important to devise methods to detect and quantify the fatigue and mental symptoms. In this study, ‘Piper Fatigue Scale’ (PFS) has been used for measuring fatigue level and ‘Symptom Checklist 90- Revised’ (SCL-90-R) for detecting the severity of mental symptoms. Data analyses were performed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software. According to the results of PFS analysis, a slight degree of fatigue is detected in all sub-dimensions of the scale. According to the results of SCL-90-R analysis, the distress of mental symptoms perceived by seafarers is not generally highly detected. In conclusion, the purpose of this study is to determine, by using subjective measurements, the fatigue level and mental symptoms among seafarers caused by working conditions on-board.