Recent research on tubular joints with very thick-walled chords

Abstract

The present paper summarizes results from recent research on thick-walled circular hollow section joints carried out in the National University of Singapore in close cooperation with the Delft University of Technology. The Netherlands. A new approach in strength definition proposed by the authors standardizes the procedure to define the strength for thick-walled joints, which exhibit ductile responses. The current paper highlights research findings on different thick-walled joint types, including X-, T- and K-joints subjected to brace axial loads or bending moments. The effect of chord stresses on the static strength of these joints shows different trends as compared to the chord stress functions in current design recommendations, which provide unconservative predictions for some of the joint types. Copyright © 2005 by The International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers.