Abstract
The three-planar tubular Y-joint (3Y-joint) is the main part of the fatigue assessment of tripod substructures of offshore wind turbines (OWTs). As typical multiplanar tubular joints, 3Y-joints are affected a lot by multiplanar interaction between braces. Moreover, the locations of hot spot stress (HSS) can vary considerably under different load types. Thus, the distributions of stress concentration factor (SCF) and multiplanar interaction factor (MIF) along weld toe curves are necessary to calculate HSS. Considering these requirements, this study focuses on the 3Y-joint considering the wide application of the tripod substructure of OWT. A finite element (FE) analysis method is introduced and validated. Then, a numerical database is established covering common ranges of parameters used in practice. The SCF and MIF of 3Y-joint under in-plane bending moment are analyzed. Distribution formulas are proposed and proved suitable for calculating HSS in engineering design.
Published Version
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