A simplified method for evaluating singular stress field and fatigue strength of U-shaped notch

In order to simplify the assessment method of notch stress and fatigue strength for cruciform welded structures in ocean engineering, a simple stress assessment formula based on singular strength values $a{s}_i$ and $b{s}_i$ was presented according to linear elastic fracture mechanics and notch stress strength theory. In view of the stress singularity caused by the V-notch, the stress of the corresponding U-notch was recommended and used for fatigue evaluation. Therefore, on the basis of V-notch stress formula, a simplified U-notch stress field evaluation formula was obtained by theoretical analysis and numerical calculation. After a series of verification, it is found that the stress distribution and fatigue strength evaluation formula for cruciform welded joints based on singular strength values proposed in this paper can simply and accurately predict the notch stress at welded joints. The result of fatigue strength evaluated by the simplified formula has a smaller scatter band.     

基于IIW准则的焊接接头多轴疲劳强度评估

多轴疲劳失效是焊接结构的主要失效模式之一。本文基于IIW多轴疲劳准则,结合切口应力法,采用1mm与0.3mm两种虚拟半径,对当前比例加载与非比例加载下的多轴疲劳实验数据进行了对比研究,结果表明：较之于名义应力法,两种虚拟半径下的切口应力系统数据点分散带 从1:3.06分别降至1:2.01与1:2.15,虚拟半径取0.3mm在多轴疲劳分析中是可行的;两种虚拟半径下的实验数据点分布均与厚度相关。在此基础上,本文在1mm与0.3mm两种虚拟半径基础上引入了0.5mm的虚拟半径,针对不同板厚引入不同虚拟半径进行有限元分析,数据点分散带 进一步降至1:1.78,拟合得到存活率PS=97.7%的S-N曲线,其斜率m为5.7,疲劳等级FAT为500MPa。     

Influence of initial distortion of 3 mm thin superstructure decks on hull girder response for fatigue assessment

This paper investigates the influence of initial distortion of 3 mm thin superstructure decks on hull girder response and fatigue assessment. Part of the traditional superstructure of a prismatic passenger ship is replaced by thin decks with initial distortion amplitude of 0, 1 and 2 times the IACS limit value for thicker plates, i.e. 0, 6 and 12 mm. Both geometrically linear and nonlinear finite element (FE) analysis is used. For reference also traditional superstructure with 5 mm plate thickness is analyzed. Thin straight superstructure decks give 43% of weight reduction and carry approximately 30% less load than corresponding thick straight decks in traditional model. The load that is not carried by thin decks is divided between other traditional decks. The redistribution of forces also happens at the deck level between plates, stiffeners, girders and longitudinal bulkheads. The presence of initial distortion with the shape of one half wave between web frames and stiffeners causes an additional few percent-decrease in forces carried. The results and conclusions are similar for hogging and sagging loading conditions and differences between geometrically linear and nonlinear FE analysis are very small. This means time saving since the panel loading for fatigue assessment can be defined from geometrically linear hull girder response analysis without considering the initial distortions.     

Study on the preciseness of hot spot stress of web-stiffened cruciform welded joints derived from shell finite element analyses

A new simple and accurate shell FE-based structural Hot Spot Stress (HSS) determination method for web-stiffened cruciform joints has been proposed. Local stress of welded joints in full-scale bulk carrier (BC)’s lower stool models subject to bending and pressure loadings are examined. HSSs determined by the proposed method are compared with those derived by Lotsberg’s method and the conventional 0.5t-1.5t extrapolation. As results, following are found:

(1)

The local stress of full-scale BC lower stool models with various stool angle and plate thickness can be calculated accurately solely from shell FE results by means of the proposed method.

(2)

HSSs of welded joints in full-scale BC lower stool models subject to bending and pressure loadings derived by the proposed method show good agreement with the target HSSs determined from fine solid models. This demonstrates the validity of the proposed method for actual ship structures under the real load.

(3)

The excessive safety allowance of HSS determined by the conventional 0.5t-1.5t extrapolation can be reduced substantially by adopting Lotsberg’s method or our proposal. The proposed HSS determination method gives more accurate estimates compared to Lotsberg’s method under the conditions chosen, and the application range of the proposed method is equal to or wider than Lotsberg’s method.

     

Numerical simulations of fatigue crack initiation and propagation based on re-tensile plastic zone generating load criterion for in-plane gusset welded joints

Many accidents are caused by fatigue in welded built-up steel structures, and so it is important to estimate the fatigue lives of such structures quantitatively for safety reasons. By assuming that fatigue cracks cannot grow without an accumulation of alternating tensile/compressional plastic strain, one of the authors identified an improved effective stress intensity factor range ΔK _RPG based on the re-tensile plastic zone generating (RPG) load, which represents the driving force for fatigue cracks, and suggested that ΔK _RPG should be used as the parameter to describe fatigue crack growth behavior. The “FLARP” numerical simulation code in which ΔK _RPG is implemented as the fatigue crack growth parameter, was developed in order to predict fatigue crack initiation and propagation behavior. In this paper, it is demonstrated that FLARP gives accurate estimates for fatigue life by comparing the estimated fatigue crack growth curves and S–N curves with the experimental results for in-plane gusset welded joints, which are used in many welded steel structures. Moreover, the effect of induced bending moment due to the linear misalignment in the out of plane direction on the fatigue strength of in-plane gusset welded joints is investigated through numerical simulations.     

The effect of weld residual stress on fracture toughness at the intersection of two welding lines of offshore tubular structure

Due to the spatial complexity and fabrication characteristics of offshore platforms, it is inevitable to encounter overlaps or proximity of weld lines in tubular joints. Several international standards such as American Petroleum Institute (API), American Welding Society (AWS), and American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) regulate the minimum distance between primary weld beads; however, any logical and detailed background of this limitation has not been presented. For a non-compliant weld joint where the regulation is not met, fracture toughness calculation is a typical index to verify the structural integrity.This research consists of two parts. First, weld residual stress distributions are calculated by a 3D thermo-mechanical nonlinear Finite Element Analysis. Two crossing welds, a T-weld crossing on a butt weld, are simulated in one model. A separate tee and a butt welding simulations are also performed for a comparative purpose. Second, SIFs and J-integral values are calculated at the surface and deepest crack tip locations for four different types of semi-elliptical surface cracks. Four cracks are embedded into the weld model and the residual stress distribution from the 3D thermo-mechanical FEA are mapped to a 3D FE crack model as initial conditions. An additional axial tensile load is also imposed. SIF values are compared with those using the weighting function method for the butt weld model subject to three load cases, i.e., tensile stress only, weld residual stress only, and both of them. From the simulation, a tubular joint containing a chord girth weld intersected with weld beads of brace is found to show lower the SIF values than that having only a girth weld on chord.