STRESS CONCENTRATION FACTOR ANALYSIS FOR UNIPLANARTUBULAR DKT-JOINTS AND PROPOSING PARAMETRIC EQUATIONFOR SCF DISTRIBUTION

Despite the frequent use of tubular DKT-joints in offshore structures, no parametric equation isavailable for determining the distribution of stress concentration factors (SCFs) along the bracechordintersection of such joints. In the present paper, the effect of non-dimensional geometricalparameters and brace-to-chord inclination angle on the distribution of SCFs along the weld toe oftubular DKT-joints under the balanced axial loads is studied. Thereafter, a parametric equation isproposed for predicting the distribution of SCFs along the 360° spatial curve of weld toe. Theproposed equation satisfies the acceptance criteria recommended by UK Department of Energy,and consequently can reliably be used for design purposes

Keywords:

Offshore Structures , Fatigue , Fracture Mechanics , Tubular DKT-joint , Parametric Equation , Stress Concentration Factor (SCF)