Abstract
Offshore steel platforms can fail structurally when pitting, weld heat-affected-zone corrosion, and corrosion fatigue cause structural braces to crack in the nodes. A theory that explains platform-failure mechanisms provides a means of estimating the failure rates for various components. An analysis of existing platforms concludes that platforms designed to the American Welding Society's strength levels have significant resistance to corrosion failure. When adequate cathodic protection is maintained, the possibility of failure from environmental action becomes remote. Furthermore, the design of cathodic-protection systems for offshore platforms should emphasize protection in the nodes rather than other areas on the platform. This is especially true in cold water, where calcareous deposits are more difficult to establish. Node protection reduces the ability of cathodic protection to spread to such difficult-to-reach locations as the welds in diagonal braces.
Published Version
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