Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics of Offshore Structures

The tubular welded joints used in the construction of offshore structures can experience millions of variable amplitude load cycles during their service life. Such fatigue loading represents a main cause of degradation in these structures. As a result, fatigue is an important consideration in their design. Fatigue and Fracture Mechanisms of Offshore Structures present novel research and the results of wave-induced stress on the operational life of offshore structures. CONTENTS INCLUDE - Stress analysis of tubular joints - Fatigue design - Fatigue loading in Jackup structures - Jack-up dynamic response - Modelling of wave loading - Test specimen considerations - The stress intensity factor concept - Variable amplitude crack growth models - Consideration of sequence effects - Sea state probability model The important research in this book will be of great interest to those dealing with a wide range of engineering structures. Fatigue and fracture specialists and those concerned with materials technology and the impact of general structural integrity issues on structural reliability and safety will find this a valuable volume.