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U.S. Department of Energy
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Fracture mechanics limit states for reassessment and maintenance of fixed offshore structures

Conference ·
OSTI ID:433658
;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. TNO-Building and Construction Research, Rijswijk (Netherlands)
  2. University College London (United Kingdom)
  3. RCP-Denmark APS, Mariager (Denmark)

In order to ensure the structural integrity of offshore structures, it is necessary to carry out periodic inspections. Fatigue cracking is one of the main deterioration processes and the inspection for cracks in welded joints forms a significant part of the inspection effort. Recent developments in structural reliability theory, fatigue fracture mechanics and the availability of various probabilistic databases such as corrosion fatigue data, inspection reliability data can be used to provide a theoretical framework for inspection planning. In addition, advances in knowledge based system technology allows the incorporation of practical constraints with the theoretical results to provide an integrated practical solution. This paper describes the development of a reliability based inspection, repair and maintenance planning methodology and the fracture mechanics limit states for fixed offshore platforms.

OSTI ID:
433658
Report Number(s):
CONF-940409--; ISBN 1-880653-10-9
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English