THE STUDY OF FATIGUE BEHAVIOR OF T-SHAPE TUBULAR JOINTS OF OFFSORE PLATFORMS IN CORROSIVE SEAWATER BY FRACTURE MECHANICS

Offshore platforms are special structures which are used for exploration, extraction and production of oil and gas from hydrocarbon reservoirs below the sea bed. Fatigue life of thesestructures is one of the important problems that must be several times of their design life. These structures are subjected to cyclic loading due to the sea waves, leading to their fatigue. Tubular welded joints of offshore platforms are extremely subjected to fatigue phenomenon due to thehigh stress concentration at these nodes. On the other hand, the corrosive sea water environment vigorously affects on their fatigue life and reduces it [1].

Keywords:

Offshore Platforms , T-shape Tubular Joints , Fatigue , Corrosion , Fracture Mechanics , Stress intensity factor