ON THE LIFE ASSESSMENT OF A THROUGH-CRACKED WELDED TUBULAR T-NODE

Abstract

The tubular joints of offshore structures are subject to dynamic loading which causes initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks at the welded tubular intersections. When a through crack is detected, an assessment must be made on the remaining life and of the necessity to repair such a connection. From thin shell finite element analysis of a simple T-joint with different lengths of cracks, values of KI are found in additional to the reduced stiffnesses. The imposition of peak static loads on a cracked node will increase the possibility of tearing and estimates of the loads to initiate tearing are made.