Offshore Structures – Tubular Connections

Efthymiou SCF Equations and Applicability

Among the available parametric equations, Efthymiou equations are recommended
by API RP 2A for all types of joints such as T, K, Y and X joints. The Efthymiou
equations can be used within the limits of following parameters.

Lower Limit Parameter Upper Limit α is defined as the chord

length parameter = L/2D
4 α 40 in which L is the distance
0.2 β 1.0 between points of contra
flexure of chord members
8 γ 32 in the adjacent span. This
is normally taken as the
20 deg θ 90 deg average of span in the
adjacent chord members
0.2 τ 1.0 connected to the joint.
-0.6β/sinθ g/D 1.0 α = (L1+L2)/2D

When any of the parameters is outside the above limits, SCF shall be evaluated as
the maximum of the following
(a) SCF calculated using the actual parameters
(b) SCF calculated using the limiting parameters

Dr. S. Nallayarasu
15 Sep 2012
94 Department of Ocean Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras-36
Offshore Structures – Tubular Connections
Hot Spot Stress Range (HSSR or S)
The hot spot stress range (S) shall be evaluated at 8 points on the chord and 8
points on the brace as shown in figure. The following equation can be used to
determine the HSSR for both chord and brace.

S sa = SCF AXsa f AX ± SCFOPB f OPB

S qr = SCF AXip f AX ± SCFIPB f IPB ± SCFOPB f OPB
S cr = SCF AXcr f AX ± SCFIPB f IPB + CE
Where
sa – saddle points (L and R position)
cr – saddle points (B and T position)
qr – quarter points (BL, BT, BR and TR positions)
ip – interpolated from saddle and crown points
CE – effect of stresses in the chord applicable
for chord crown only
AX – Axial,
IPB – inplane bending
OPB – out-of plane bending

15 Sep 2012 Dr. S. Nallayarasu Department of Ocean

99 Engineering Indian Institute of Technology
Madras-36
Offshore Structures – Tubular Connections
Effthymiou equations

Dr. S. Nallayarasu
15 Sep 2012
101 Department of Ocean Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras-36
Offshore Structures – Tubular Connections

Dr. S. Nallayarasu
15 Sep 2012
102 Department of Ocean Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras-36
Offshore Structures – Tubular Connections

Dr. S. Nallayarasu
15 Sep 2012
103 Department of Ocean Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras-36
Offshore Structures – Tubular Connections

Dr. S. Nallayarasu
15 Sep 2012
104 Department of Ocean Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras-36
Offshore Structures – Tubular Connections

Dr. S. Nallayarasu
15 Sep 2012
105 Department of Ocean Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras-36
Offshore Structures – Tubular Connections

Dr. S. Nallayarasu
15 Sep 2012
106 Department of Ocean Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras-36
Offshore Structures – Tubular Connections

Dr. S. Nallayarasu
15 Sep 2012
107 Department of Ocean Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras-36
Offshore Structures – Tubular Connections
S-N Curves for Tubular Joints
The S-N curves can be generated using the following relationship, if the
values of k1 and m are known.
Log10 ( N ) = Log10 ( k1) − mLog10 ( S )
The values of k1 and m for various S-N curves from API RP 2A and DNV
codes applicable to tubular joints are summarized.
Code S-N Curve Designation Log10(k1) m
X’ (Welded Joints) 13.39 3.74
X (Improved Profile) 15.06 4.38
API RP 2A (21st Ed)
WJ (Welded Joints) 12.48 3 for N<107
API RP 2A (21st Ed) 16.13 5 for N>107
Supplement 3 Improved WJ (Weld 12.17 3 for N<107
improvement) 16.50 5 for N>107
DNV-RP-C203 T 11.76 3 for N<107
(Welded Joints) 15.60 5 for N>107
The S values shall be in MPa
Dr. S. Nallayarasu
15 Sep 2012
112 Department of Ocean Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras-36
Offshore Structures – Tubular Connections
PALMGREN - MINERS’ RULE
The cumulative fatigue damage shall be calculated at the brace chord interface
using the following formula as proposed by Palmgren-Miner.

8 k
Cumulative Fatigue Damage ni
at a particular location in the Dcd = 
connection for design period j =1 i =1 N i

ni = Number of occurrences in each sea-state and a minimum of 8 directions

shall be included in the fatigue sea state for j=1 to 8 and i=1 to k is for all the
waves in a particular direction.
Ni = Allowable number of cycles for hot spot stress range (S) corresponding to ni
number of cycles of ith sea state

The fatigue damage for each joint shall be evaluated at a minimum of 8 points
on the brace side and 8 points on the chord side as shown in figure. The
maximum value among the 8 points shall be taken as the design fatigue damage
representing the joint.

Dr. S. Nallayarasu
15 Sep 2012
115 Department of Ocean Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras-36
Offshore Structures – Tubular Connections
Total Fatigue Damage (Dt)
The computed cumulative fatigue damage shall multiplied by the appropriate
factor of safety.

Dt = SF * Dcd it shall be < 1.0

The above total fatigue damage is cumulative over the design life (Lf ) since the
number cycles is considered over the design life. Conversely, if the fatigue life
needs to be computed from the calculated fatigue damage, it can be computed
as the inverse of the fatigue damage as follows.
1
Fatigue Life L F =
Dt
If the fatigue damage from other sources such as transportation, pile driving
etc. needs to be accounted, then the following relationship shall be used to
compute the remaining fatigue life for service.
1 1
Residual Fatigue Life L F = −
D t Do
Where Do is the fatigue damage from other sources.
Dr. S. Nallayarasu
15 Sep 2012
117 Department of Ocean Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras-36
Offshore Structures – Tubular Connections
SCF for grouted Joints
The grouted joint (single skin grouted or double skin annulus grouted) can be
treated as simple joints by replacing the chord thickness Tc in the γ term for the
evaluation of SCF using the following relationship.

Teff = 0.035D + 0.93Tc

However, following points shall be noted when using the above.

 For joints with b>0.9 and g<12, effect of grouting shall be neglected due to
insufficient test data

 A minimum SCF of 1.5 shall be used for grouted joints if the computed values
are less than 1.5.

 Due to debonding of grout while subjected larger tensile stresses, the SCF
values shall be evaluated for tension and compression, the larger value shall be
used for the fatigue analysis.

 The SCF values calculated by the above method may be un-conservative for K
joints in the gap region between braces.

Equivalent thickness calculated by SRSS shall not be used.

Dr. S. Nallayarasu
15 Sep 2012
120 Department of Ocean Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras-36