• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.151-167
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• 2014

It is common that analyses of offshore platforms being carried out with the assumption of rigid tubular joints. However, many researches have concluded that it is necessary that local joint flexibility (LJF) of tubular joints should be taken into account. Meanwhile, advanced analysis of old offshore platforms considering local joint flexibility leads to more accurate results. This paper presents an extensive finite-element (FE) based study on the flexibility of uni-planner multi-brace tubular Y-T and K-joints commonly found in offshore platforms. A wide range of geometric parameters of Y-T and K-joints in offshore practice is covered to generate reliable parametric equations for flexibility matrices. The formulas are obtained by non-linear regression analyses on the database. The proposed equations are verified against existing analytical and experimental formulations. The equations can be used reliably in global analyses of offshore structures to account for the LJF effects on overall behavior of the structure.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.603-611
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• 2006

The fundamental joint configuration that is often applied in offshore structures is the K-joint. The paper describes a numerical parametric study for K-joint parameters (using the finite element program) and compared with results of the experimental test. The stress effects of various parameters including $\alpha,\;\beta,\;\gamma,\;\tau\;and\;\theta$ were investigated. The paper introduces the stress distributions as per each parameter. From the study, the maximum stress of joint became different according to the variation of joint parameters.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2007

The K-joint is one of the commonly applied element in offshore structures. Due to its structural configuration, the stress concentration occurs in the joint. Considering the important effect to the structural safety and the design optimization, a design guideline is strongly required. The main variables determining the configuration of K-joint including ${\alpha},\;{\beta},\;{\gamma},\;{\tau}$ and ${\theta}$ are closely investigated to find the individual effect to the Stress to K-joint. The maximum Stress of joint has been differed as per the variation of parameters. The parametric study has been numerically carried out and compare with the experimental data.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.655-663
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• 2006

Large-scale model tests of welded tubular K-joints were carried out to observe the fatigue behavior of API 2W Gr.50 steel produced by POSCO. The fatigue crack behaviors for various loading conditions were measured and investigated around the critical joint sections. The experimental results have been verified with numerical approaches and also compared with the IIW, DnV RP-C203 and API RP 2A-WSD design curves. The hot spot strss method was applied in the study. The SCF factor for tubular K-joint was also obtained.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

This paper investigates the impact of local joint flexibility (LJF) on the fatigue life of jacket-type offshore platforms. Four sample platforms with varying geometric properties are modeled and analyzed using the Opensees software. The analysis considers the LJF of tubular joints through the equivalent element and flexible link approaches, and the results are compared to rigid modeling. Initially, modal analysis is conducted to examine the influence of LJF on the frequency content of the structure. Subsequently, fatigue analysis is performed to evaluate the fatigue life of the joints. The comparison of fatigue life reveals that incorporating LJF leads to reduced fatigue damage and a significant increase in the longevity of the joints in the studied platforms. Moreover, as the platform height increases, the effect of LJF on fatigue damage becomes more pronounced. In conclusion, considering LJF in fatigue analysis provides more accurate results compared to conventional methods. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate the effects of LJF in the analysis and design of offshore jacket platforms to ensure their structural integrity and longevity.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.43-56
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• 2018

Vertical cutoff walls such as steel pipe sheet piles (SPSPs) have been commonly applied for the construction of the offshore waste landfill site. Because the SPSPs are sequentially installed by connecting their joints to those of adjacent piles, their mechanical stability should be ensured against the inherent external forces on the sea. The objective of this study is to evaluate the structural performances of the newly developed types of SPSP joint compared with those of other joint types. The problems of the traditional SPSP joints are investigated, and an advanced joint shape of SPSP, which is named double H with L-T (DHLT) joint, are designed for improving the constructability and maintenance. Full-scale models of the DHLT joint are manufactured, and then its joint areas are filled with grout material. After 28 days of curing time, compressive and tensile strength tests were performed on the joint models and the test results were compared with those of the traditional joints. Experimental results show that the structural capacities of the DHLT joint models are lower than those of traditional joints due to the influence of grout and steel members. In the cases of the compressive strength test, especially, bending occurs on steel H-beam with no distinct cracks in grout due to the asymmetrical structure of joint which has no reaction force. This study shows that the performance of the SPSP joint can be improved by considering the influence factors on the structural capacities estimated by the experimental tests.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.321-331
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• 2003

The paper presents the results of an experimental investigation conducted on welded tubular joints, that are employed in offshore platforms, to study the behaviour and strength of these joints under axial brace compression loading. The geometrical configuration of the joints tested were T and Y. The nominal diameter of the chord and brace members of the joint were 324 and 219 mm respectively. The chord thickness was 12 mm and the brace 8 mm. The tested joints are approximately quarter size when compared to the largest joints in the platforms built in a shallow water depth of 80 m in the Bombay High field. Some of the joints were actually fabricated by a leading offshore agency which firm is directly involved in the fabrication of prototype structures. Strength of the internally ring-stiffened joints was found to be almost twice that of the unstiffened joints of the same configuration and dimensions. Bending of the chord as a whole was observed to be the predominant mode of deformation of the internally ring-stiffened joints in contrast to ovaling and punching shear of the unstiffened joints. It was observed in this investigation that unstiffened joint was stiffer in ovaling mode than in bending and that midspan deflection of unstiffened joint was insignificant when compared to that of the internally ring stiffened joint. The measured midspan deflection of the unstiffened joint in this investigation and its relation with the applied axial load compares very well with that predicted for the brace axial displacement by energy method published in the literature. A comparison of the measured deflection and ovaling of the unstiffened joint was made with that published by the author elsewhere in which numerical prediction of both quantities have been made using ANSYS software package. The agreement was found to be quite good.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.149-167
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• 2004

Offshore platforms have to serve in harsh environments and hence are likely to be damaged due to wave induced fatigue and environmental corrosion. Welded tubular joints in offshore platforms are most vulnerable to fatigue damage. Such damages endanger the integrity of the structure. Therefore it is all the more essential to assess the capacity of damaged structure from the point of view of its safety. Eight internally ring stiffened fatigue damaged tubular joints with nominal chord and brace diameter of 324 mm and 219 mm respectively and thickness 12 mm and 8 mm respectively were tested under axial brace compression loading to evaluate the reserve capacity of the joints. These joints had earlier been tested under fatigue loading under corrosive environments of synthetic sea water and hence they have been cracked. The extent of the damage varied from 35 to 50 per cent. One stiffened joint was also tested under axial brace tension loading. The residual strength of fatigue damaged stiffened joint tested under tension loading was observed to be less than one fourth of that tested under compression loading. It was observed in this experimental investigation that in the damaged condition, the joints possessed an in-built load-transfer mechanism. A bi-linear stress-strain model was developed in this investigation to predict the reserve capacity of the joint. This model considered the strain hardening effect. Close agreement was observed between the experimental and predicted results. The paper presents in detail the experimental investigation and the development of the analytical model to predict the reserve capacity of internally ring stiffened joints.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.291-296
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• 2004

The paper describes a test program on welded K-joints fabricated from circular hollow section brace members and chords made with API 2W 50 grade steel produced by POSCO. The K-joints were tested for three loading conditions at RIST. The specimens were tested in reaction frame that allowed vertical uniform loading to the structure. From the test, the crack initiation and development were observed and the fatigue failure could be predicted. The results were also compared with the provided S-N curves by DnV.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2017

This paper seeks to provide a dynamic analysis of a 150 ton winch based on ocean environmental data. The winch model that was subjected to analysis was modeled from CAD to each subsystem by the commercial software DAFUL. The winch model has tree brake systems (disk brake, band brake and ratchet brake). The rotation motion of the motor and contact elements of the brake are applied to the winch model in order to analyze its dynamic characteristics. In addition, a crane-barge was modeled to apply ocean environmental data. The motion data of the crane-barge was produced by means of the RAO(Response Amplitude Operator) of the barge and wave spectrum. The reaction force of the translational joint was measured instead of the tension of the cable. The brake performance of the winch was produced and assessed based on the operating motion of the crane-barge.