FATIGUE DESIGN OF CAST STEEL NODES IN OFFSHORE STRUCTURES BASED ON RESEARCH DATA.

RUNNING HEAD UNNING HEADMA AND SHARP Fatigue design of cast steel nodes in offshore structures based on research data A. Ma, BSc, PhD, MICE, MBCS, FCIArb, Barrister and J. V. Sharp, MA, DPhil, CEng, CPhys Steel castings have been incorporated in the fatigue sensitive zones of North Sea platforms to exploit the superior fatigue performance of cast steel nodes when compared with conventional welded joints. Fatigue assessment and the design of tubular joints in offshore structures are largely governed by three parameters; namely (a) stress concentrations at the joints, (b) the SN relationships of the material used and (c) defects in the material at potential fatigue crack initiation sites...