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API conventions for tubular joints

Background

For a selected tubular joint between two beams, a plane is naturally defined by the axes of both beams.

The following reference frame is used to calculate the stresses in one of these beams:

  • \(Z\) axis is the brace axis

  • \(Y\) axis is the moment axis which bends the connection in the plane defined by the two beams;

  • \(X\) axis is the moment axis which bends the selected beam out of the connection plane

And the stresses write :

\(\small\sigma_{G1}(t)=SCF_{A_{C}}\cdot\sigma_{AZ}(t)+SCF_{M_{IP}}\cdot\sigma_{FY}(t)\)

\(\small\sigma_{G2}(t)=\frac{1}{2}(SCF_{A_{C}}+SCF_{A_{S}})\cdot\sigma_{AZ}(t)+\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\cdot SCF_{M_{IP}}\cdot\sigma_{FY}(t)-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\cdot SCF_{M_{OP}}\cdot\sigma_{FX}(t)\)

\(\small\sigma_{G3}(t)=SCF_{A_{S}}\cdot\sigma_{AZ}(t)-SCF_{M_{OP}}\cdot\sigma_{FX}(t)\)

\(\small\sigma_{G4}(t)=\frac{1}{2}(SCF_{A_{C}}+SCF_{A_{S}})\cdot\sigma_{AZ}(t)-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\cdot SCF_{M_{IP}}\cdot\sigma_{FY}(t)-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\cdot SCF_{M_{OP}}\cdot\sigma_{FX}(t)\)

\(\small\sigma_{G5}(t)=SCF_{A_{C}}\cdot\sigma_{AZ}(t)-SCF_{M_{IP}}\cdot\sigma_{FY}(t)\)

\(\small\sigma_{G6}(t)=\frac{1}{2}(SCF_{A_{C}}+SCF_{A_{S}})\cdot\sigma_{AZ}(t)-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\cdot SCF_{M_{IP}}\cdot\sigma_{FY}(t)+\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\cdot SCF_{M_{OP}}\cdot\sigma_{FX}(t)\)

\(\small\sigma_{G7}(t)=SCF_{A_{S}}\cdot\sigma_{AZ}(t)+SCF_{M_{OP}}\cdot\sigma_{FX}(t)\)

\(\small\sigma_{G8}(t)=\frac{1}{2}(SCF_{A_{C}}+SCF_{A_{S}})\cdot\sigma_{AZ}(t)+\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\cdot SCF_{M_{IP}}\cdot\sigma_{FY}(t)+\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\cdot SCF_{M_{OP}}\cdot\sigma_{FX}(t)\)


If we compare DeepLines conventions with API conventions for the 8 section points where streses are calculated, it comes :

As a consequence, the \(X\) and \(Y\) local axes correspond to the X and Y axes used for the API formula.

  • \(SCF_{IP}\) will be applied on the \(Y\) local direction and must be associated to the bending stiffness \(EI_{yy}\)

  • \(SCF_{OP}\) will be applied in the \(X\) local direction and is associated to the bending stiffness \(EI_{xx}\).

Fatigue and stress post-processing

A set of \(SCF\) coeffcients may be defined for a fatigue analysis depending on the type of line.

For tubular joints, four \(SCF\) may be entered: \(SCF_{A_{Saddle1}}\); \(SCF_{A_{Crown1}}\); \(SCF_{M_{IP}}\); \(SCF_{M_{OP1}}\) are the \(SCF\) coefficients.

For classical pipes, three \(SCF\) are usefull : \(SCF_{axial}\), \(SCF_{bending}\)

When these coefficients are defined, the stresses used for fatigue assessment writes: $$ \sigma_{axial}=SCF_{axial}\frac{N_{Sd}}{A_{steel}} \text{ and } \sigma_{bending}=SCF_{bendingX}M_1\cdot\frac{y}{I_x}-SCF_{bendingY}M_2\cdot\frac{x}{I_y} $$

Note

At the end of a fatigue analysis, in the summary file, the \(SCF\) coefficients actually applied are recalled.

Example:

Most Damageable Element in the range: \([0.833333m;16.618m]\) * Abscissa (m) : \(0.833333\) * Section Point : \(7\) * Damage : \(1.1773*10^{29}\) * Fatigue Life (years) : \(8.49398*10^{-30}\)

Stress \(SCF\) coefficients:
* \(SCF_{axial}= 1\) * \(SCF_{bending}= 1\)

\([0, 17.368]\) * \(SCF_{A_{Saddle}}= 1\) * \(SCF_{A_{Crown}}=1\) * \(SCF_{M_{IP}}= 0.7458\) * \(SCF_{M_{OP}}= 1.4098\)