STRESS CONCENTRATION FACTORS IN TUBULAR JOINTS UNDER IN PLANE MOMENT LOADING

A study is presented of the stress concentration factors in tubular K- joints that are commonly used in offshore platform structures. In this study , finite element analysis method is used to model tubular K-joints under inplane moment loadings. Arange of geometric joint parameters was selwcted to model K-joints. Along intersection tip, a well graded finite mesh is generated to botain the stress concentration factors. The results of the finite element analyses were first used to assess two sets of commonly used parametric equations, which predict the mximum stress concentration factors on the outer surfaces of the chord. They were then employed to modify existing parametric equation for predicting stress concentration factors. There is good agreement between finite element analysis and modified parametric equation results.