Stress concentration factors for fatigue analysis of circumferential welds in very thick tubular members in fixed offshore structures

Abstract

In this thesis, the numerical analysis work performed, using Finite Element Method, assesses cases beyond the limits imposed by industry standards on end configurations for tubular circumferential joints in offshore structures and concludes by proposing that current limitations on thickness ratio and thickness transition slope require relaxation/revision to allow alternative possibilities be used in design, for joints with high thicknesses, with potential cost savings without altering the risk of failure in such welded joints.