Fatigue performance of tubular X-joints: Numerical investigation
Nguyen Chien Thang
Qian Xudong
Ton That Hoang Lan
Tóm tắt
The cyclic actions due to waves, currents and winds on offshore platforms fi'equently cause fatigue cracks at hot-spot locations. The remaining fatigue life of such connections depends significantly on the fatigue driving force often measured by the stress-intensity factors. This study examines the fatigue performance of tubular joints fabricated using a new type of enhanced partial joint penetration weld details under constant-amplitude brace in-plane bending actions. The numerical study ascertains the crack propagation angle, the crack-front profile and the interaction between adjacent cracks on the stress-intensity factors.