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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 11, November 2012)

Calculation of the Factor of Stress Concentration in the Junctions Welded Tube Subjected to Combined Loadings
A. Fouathia1, A. Mekroud2, A. Benmeddour3, K. Bellagh4
1,2,3,4

Mechanics Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, University Mentouri-constantine Chaab Ersas Campus, 25000 Constantine Algeria It is therefore necessary to assess accurately the intensity of stress concentration to properly address the problem of fatigue damage, and result in reliable tubular junction, and it will pay particular attention to the design and the achievement of welded assemblies. So far, research [7] in the field of fatigue welded tubular nodes was conducted mainly conducted by the offshore oil industry[8]. This study discusses the phenomena of fatigue in the nodes of T tube assemblies welded metal structures subject to marine stress due to random natural elements (waves, wind, current, ...) Its purpose is to study the stress distribution and location of points "hot" (hot-spot stresses) at critical points in terms of fatigue in welded tubular joints subjected to static loading along the traction, bending in the plane, bending out of plane and the combination: tension / bending in the plane and traction / bending out of plane loading simulating more real it is to find a numerical simulation tool to study and predict the behavior of welded tubular structures, a simple and accurate modeling of the structure using a computer code based on the finite element method that will calculate the stress concentration near the weld. A mixed formulation will ensure a balance of efforts at the junctions locally and globally, on the whole structure. II. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 1 Stress distribution The constraints considered in this study will be calculated at the centroid of each finite element, so as to have an average value of the stress tensor finite element considered. These are the Von Mises stresses. The results of the simulation of the load of the tubular structure welded in tension we can take the existence of two zones in the spacer: area 1 where the stresses decrease abruptly, is located above the weld and in the immediate vicinity of the latter, area 2 in which the stresses gradually decrease, while having a small change from place to reach values nearly constant at the upper end of the brace, figure 1. N2 is the nominal stress measured in zone 2. N1, N2: nominal stresses sampled at the edge of the hot area located on the extension, above the two hot spots related to two points of crown point at a height of about (D + d) / 2 from the point of saddle.

Abstract Fatigue failure caused by stress concentrations in welded tubular joints is observed in the offshore platforms subjected to cyclic loading in corrosive marine environments. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately assess the intensity of stress concentration to properly address the problem of fatigue damage, and result in reliable tubular junctions. Stress concentrations in the offshore structures usually occur at the intersections of tubular joints. In some junctions, the stress concentration may induce a maximum stress at the intersection 30 times the nominal stress, and increase the risk of fatigue failure in tubular joints. This work aims to study the stress distribution points and "hot" in the tubular welded joints, subjected to combined loading of traction and rotating bending (bending in the plane, out of plane bending and traction)simulating better loading real. Keywords stress concentration, offshore structures, finite element method; tubular welded joints.

I. INTRODUCTION Welded tubular assemblies are widely used in steel construction in the modern bridges, towers and offshore structures such as oil rigs Offshore Jacket style for the exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves in the marine environment.They are classified according to their form in T. Y. X, K, DT, DY, and DK [1]. The welded the frames with the amounts and diagonal forms a node characterized by a variable stiffness, nonuniform distribution of stresses and a complex threedimensional behavior, while this may be unfavorable if the assembly is poorly designed or poorly made and can lead to fatigue failure resulting from cyclic loading to which the structure is subjected[2]. Offshore platforms are subjected during their service life (20-30 years) to various environ mental actions; waves, currents, wind and storms are particularly severe suffering and the combined action of several stresses including traction [3]. Bending in the plane and bending out of plane, the stresses at the junctions of tubes create hot spots or areas of high stress concentrations [4]. In some junctions, the stress concentration may induce a maximum stress at the intersection 30 times the nominal stress inevitably leading to a fatigue damage of these structures [5]. Besides the security problem they pose, the fatigue failure cause significant operating losses for the user and costly to repair and redesign high for the manufacturer [6].

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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering


Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 11, November 2012) max is chosen as the highest values of N1, N2. Either: max = sup (N1, N2) (1)

Figure 3: Field of stresses in the structure with distorted.

Figure1: Areas of stress distribution

In figure 2, which shows the evolution of the Von Mises stress along the periphery of the brace, there is the presence of the two areas already explained:

2.1 Constraints in the junction In the case of traction stress concentration around the junction is divided symmetrically into two points and this, it is largely visible in the vicinity of two points of the crown favors the appearance of the hot spot in the two points. In Figure 4 we see this stress concentration. The maximum point is 32.4 Mpa High Chairs and the minimum value is 0.11 Mpa.

Figure 4: Concentration of stresses in the Weld.

Figure 2: Distribution of stress on the brace.

By applying a traction force on the brace, the structure undergoes a deformation whose general form is shown in Figure3, we see that the deformation is largely located in the middle of the chord just below the brace; the latter also undergoes a strain but lower proportion to the chord. The deformation of the latter is mainly longitudinal.

For reasons of symmetry, we consider only half of our welded structure, so the study will focus on the portion between the saddle point (=0) and crown point (=90). The figures, 5a and 5b show the distribution of stress intensity factor kt in the structure. It is clear that the concentration increases gradually from the point of saddle until it reaches the maximum value at the crown point (kt = 6.4). In Figure 5b best seen changes in the stress concentration factor based on the positioning angle i between two points saddle and crown, this explains the increase in concentration.

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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering


Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 11, November 2012) 2.2.1. Constraints at the junction In this case load, we can distinguish a similarity in the distribution of stress concentration with the traction that is to say that the concentration is on two points of crown, see figure 7. The concentration changes in the same way as in the case of traction, except that the values are lower compared to those of traction, again for reasons of symmetry we consider only the portion between the saddle point and crownpoint. The minimum value is always at the saddle point at the angle =0, while the maximum is at a crown point (=90), and is in the range of 296.7Mpa. Note that in the case of OPB, the value of the stress of the hot spot is larger than that of the traction.
Figure 5 a: stress intensity factor in traction

Figure7: Distribution of stress in the welded joint.

Figure 5b: Change kt according i

2.2 Out of plane Bending In this case, the structure will be stressed in bending out of plane this solicitation will result in a transverse deformation which will be located primarily on the frame, with a party that will undergo a pull and the other a compression figure 6.

The distribution of stress intensity factor kt throughout the tubular structure is representing in figure 8a. The curve in figure 8b representing the evolution of the stress intensity factor kt based on the angle of position i, takes the same shape as the curve of traction. Concentration increases gradually from the saddle point until it reaches the maximum value at the crown point about 7.8 Mpa.

Figure 8a: stress intensity factor in traction

Figure 6: stress concentration in bending out of plane

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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering


Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 11, November 2012) The symmetry in the distribution of the concentration still exists.

Figure 8b: Curve of variation of kt based i

2.3. Bending in the plane We apply in this case a bending in the plane of the frame creating a deformation made by compression on one side and pulling the other. Note that most of the deformation is located on the chord near the junction between the two tubes, the spacer undergoes deformation, but also to a lesser extent, figure 9.

Figure 10: Concentration of bending stresses in the plane.

The concentration in this case, changing gradually from the saddle point to a maximum value (kt = 5.06) at an angle =90 and then begins to decrease until crown point. We note here that the hot spot is not located at the crown point as the other two cases, but in the saddle point figure 11.

Figure 9: Distribution of stresses in the structure

2.3.1. Constraints at the junction From Figure 10, which shows the distribution of stresses in the structure (the case of IPD) unlike the two previous cases of loading, the stress concentration is not located very near the crown but is diverted to the saddle point. It is in the range of 141.6Mpa. In both previous cases we distinguish the presence of two hot spots; in the case of the IPD we also notice the same thing.

Figure 11: Factor intensity of traction stresses.

In the same way as in the other two loads we draw the curve representing the evolution of the stress intensity factor based on, but this time the shape of the curve is completely different from the other two. But we can see the appearance of symmetry of this curve.

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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering


Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 11, November 2012)

Figure 12: Curve of variation of Kt based i Solicitation of the structure IPD

Figure 13: Concentration of stresses in traction-IPD-OPD.

2.4. Comparison of results In Table 1 we compared the results of our calculations and those obtained by parametric formulas and numerical calculations of different researchers [9], a structure that represents the same dimensions.
Load cases

Kuang & al.

Gibstein

Hel. & al

F.E.M

our calculation

TRAC -TION

9.6 3.3

11.2 3.4

6.7 2.8

8.6 3.2

6.48
Figure 14: distribution of stress in the welded joint.

IPD

5.06

OPD

8.6

11.3

6.1

9.1

7.81

Table 1: Comparison of results

We find that the results of our calculations are closer to those obtained in particular by Hel. and al, in general, by other researchers, for the same loads. III. COMBINED LOADING 3.1. Combination pull-OPD-IPD Applying a combined loading of traction and bending out of plane and bending in plane with the same load of 4 Mpa. Note that the stress concentration at the junction between the chord and the brace is located in the vicinity in two points of crown. Given the combination of loads, the chord is extremely distorted.

This stress concentration is not symmetric. It starts with a maximum value 6.3 to crown point, =0 angle and begins to increase until it reaches the value of 10.3 at =72 angle, then the constraints will gradually decrease until it reaches the value of kt = 3.6 to angle = 143 , from that point until it increases the value of 6.3 kt in the second crown point at the angle =180. The graph representing the evolution of the stress concentration factor kt based on the positioning angle is shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15: Factor intensity of traction

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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering


Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 11, November 2012) Some research work, namely those conducted by the CTICM [12] (Industrial Technical Centre of Metal Construction, France), have established the variation of stress concentration factor according to each geometric parameter, as a function exponential type. The work carried out on cylindrical notched loaded in tension, have to take into account the exponential increase of the stress distribution. The fact remains that this possibility is being ruled out of tubular structures, except in tension [13]. Therefore, the expression of stress concentration factor is given by the ratio of the maximum stress max to the hottest point on the stress nominal nom near the weld, both on the side of the spacer as that of the chord. We consider for each finite element of the structure, and for each stress, the Von Mises stresses, in order to obtain the stress concentration factors respectively. Constraints are taken into account the constraints of so-called "skin" for thin shell elements [12]. But we can say to the existence of a zone of symmetry between the saddle point and the crown point; in this area the factors of stress concentration are identical, and are found to increase with as we advance the saddle point to crown point. The hot spot changes position depending on the geometry of the node and the nature of the solicitation. V. CONCLUSION Use of COMSOL Multiphysics code calculation based on the finite element method to study and predict the behavior of the tubular structure welded T-shaped a simple and accurate modeling of this software. To calculate the stress concentration (the factors of stress concentration) in the vicinity of the weld and also to locate hot spots or areas of high stress concentrations. Given the complexity and nodes tubular geometric discontinuity, this method seems best suited, This study has shown that hot spots are generally located in the crown points: traction/bending out of the plane and combined traction / bending out of plane with values of the factors of stress concentration which can reach respectively: ( 8.99, 10.36, 13.98) and are satisfactory compared to those found by other researchers (9.62, 10.45, 18.0) [13][14], except in the vicinity: in plane bending and the combination: traction/bending in the plane with values respectively as : (4.94 to 58.5, 11.01 to 72) and that approach also values obtained by the searches: (3.11 at 45, 9.8 to 67.5), based on these values shows that the maximum stresses in the hotspots also vary depending on the load. The computer code can be used to achieve consistent results and consistent with the literature.

Figure 16: Curve of variation of Kt based i.

IV. DISCUSSED AND RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1. In case traction Constraints prevailing at the junction chord-brace in a tubular T as an axial stress produced by bending, due to the overall deformation of the chord. Any changes to these constraints will have a significant influence on the values of the Kt and reducing the deformation of the chord. The best way to reduce the deformation of the chord is to add a stiffener where the chord is deformed. Research [10] [11] has proven that this method can reduce the maximum hot spot up to 40%. Following his research, Baker gardening came to reduce the maximum hot spot of 5.25 to 3.15, using this principle. 4.1.1. In case of bending in the plane In the case of bending in the plane, the stresses at the junction spacer ribs are produced by local bending of the chord. By acting the same way as in the case of traction, that is to say by adding a stiffener in the chord, you can get a slight reduction in the maximum value of kt, however, this value is low given the meaning deformation of the chord. 4.1.2. In case of bending out of plane Bending out of plane is similar to that of traction when the overall deformation is the main parameter generating constraints at the junction spacer chord. As in the case of traction, any reduction in the overall deformation results in reduced values of the Kt. With the same principle of traction as stiffening, the maximum values of kt can be reduced to 30%. The calculation of stress concentration factors can provide some information on the distribution of stresses in the structure studied in the type of solicitations. Given the complexity due to many parameters and in particular the geometry of the intersection curve, there is no straightforward method to take into account the stress distribution near the weld, only the method of FEA can make any part of the answer.

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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering


Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 11, November 2012) REFERENCES
[1 ] F.Ghanameh, D.Thevenet, A.Zeghloul "Concentration de contraintes dans les jonctions tubulaire de type T, Y et K" 17eme congr de mecanique-Troys septembre 2005[2 ] Fathi GHANAMEH : "Fiabilite des jonctions tubulaires soudees des plateformes offshore" (2002-2005) [3 ] S. A. KARAMANOS, A. ROMEIJN, J. WARDENER, "Stress Concentrations in Tubular Gap K-Joint: Mechanics and Fatigue Design", Engng, struct. vol.22 , 4-14, 2000. [4 ] VISSER W, "On the structural design of tubular joints", Offshore Technology Conference, OTC 2117, Houston, Texas (1974). [5 ] American Welding Society, "Structural Welding Code-Steel", 14th edn, ANSI/AWS, Miami (1994). [6 ] American Petroleum Institute, "Recommended Practice for planning, Designing and constructing Fixed Offshore Platforms", 1st edn, API RP2a-LRFD, Washignton DC (1993). [7 ] Lloyd's register of shipping. "Stress Concentration Factors for Simple Tubular Joints", HSE BOOKS, OTH 354 (1997). [8 ] Shao Yong-Bo "Geometrical effect on the stress distribution along weld toe for tubular T- and K-joints under axial loading" Science direct Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 13511360 [9 ] A. NDiaye, S. Hariri, G. Pluvinage and Z. Azari . Stress concentration factor analysis for welded, notched tubular T-joints under combined axial, bending and dynamic loading International Journal of Fatigue, Volume 31, Issue 2, February 2009, Pages 367-374 [10 ] M.M.K. Lee, D. Bowness. Estimation of stress intensity factor solutions for weld toe cracks in offshore tubular joint. International Journal of Fatigue 24 (2002) 861875 [11 ] CEE 504: Finite Element Methods in Structural Mechanics Winter 2009 Using COMSOL Multiphysics to solve structural mechanics problems. [12 ] Rapport CNEXO-CTICM, "Calcul Statique des Assemblages Tubulaires, Concentration des Contraintes dans les Assemblages Tubulaires". [13 ] E. CHANG and W.D. DOVER, "Stress Concentration Factor Parametric Equations for Tubular X and DT Joints", Int. J. Fatigue, vol. 18,363-387, 1996 [14 ] A.NDIAYE, "Concentration des contraintes dans des structures tubulaires" Thse de doctorat (Mars 2001) Universite de Metz.

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