Strength analysis of air cooler support frame (ACSF) platform due to corrosion

Abstract

Design of an Air Cooler Support Frame (ACSF) platform installed at waters area must be sustainable and capable to withstand the environmental loads. In the estuary, corrosion due to seawater accumulates around the platform legs leads to reduce the strength of the structure. Therefore, this study was conducted to predict the platform’s strength under critical corrosion conditions during its working life. The analysis was carried out using the Finite Element Method. In the global analysis, the operating and environmental loads were applied. Then, various patterns in term of length and intensity of corrosion were adjusted to the corrosion zone’s elevation based on calculations from inspection data to determine the pattern that has the most significant effect to the platform’s strength. The most critical pattern of the corrosion was used in the model for local stress analysis. The results indicated that the appropriate corrosion model was applied to the ACSF Platform has a corrosion length pattern of about half of the leg length with an intensity of 40%. Also, the strength of the ACSF platform decreases after corrosion occurs. The stress in the corroded leg has exceeded the material allowable stress but still undergoes acceptable deformation.