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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Uncertainties in the fatigue assessment of ring-stiffened joints

Conference ·
OSTI ID:205390
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Health and Safety Executive, London (United Kingdom). Offshore Safety Division
  2. AEA Technology, Culham (United Kingdom). Marine Technology Support Unit

The use of ring-stiffened joints in offshore structures is widespread. However, the prediction of the fatigue behavior of these joints is subject to considerable uncertainty and there is a need to identify the principal factors contributing to these uncertainties. This paper includes a survey of the use of ring-stiffened joints in a number of fixed platforms in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea and a detailed assessment of both the stress concentration factor equations and the S-N curves used to evaluate the fatigue life. The uncertainties associated with the current procedure for the assessment of the fatigue performance of ring-stiffened joints are assessed in the light of the development of the revision to the HSE Fourth Edition Fatigue Guidance.

OSTI ID:
205390
Report Number(s):
CONF-950695--; ISBN 0-7918-1309-6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English