Numerical studies on crack growth in a steel tubular T-joint

The results of a numerical investigation on fatigue crack growth of an offshore tubular T-joint under the action of axial, in-plane and out-of-plane bending loads are presented in this paper. Extensive stress analysis has been carried out to determine the location of the hot spot stress along the brace-chord intersection for each load case. Semi-elliptical cracks with varying crack lengths and crack depths were introduced at the hot spot location by means of line spring elements for stress intensity factor evaluation. The line springs were properly constrained to prevent the problem of crack surface penetration. The stress intensity factors obtained are then used in a crack growth law for life estimation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.