Ultimate Capacity of Dented Tubular Members under Axial Compression and Bending. Finite Element Analysis

by Eleni Fiamegou

Diploma Thesis, July 2005

ABSTRACT

The work investigates the effects of initial local dents on the structural (axial load and bending moment) capacity of tubular members, mainly used in offshore applications. Following a comparison with available experimental data, a simulation with FE program ABAQUS is conducted. The simulation has two steps: the denting step and the loading-to-failure step. Nonlinear analysis with shell elements and large-strain plasticity is adopted. The results focus on the determination of the loss of structural stiffness for different initial dent sizes. In addition, interaction diagrams of axial load versus bending moment are plotted for different values of the initial dent. The numerical results are compared with the analytical formulae proposed by Exxon Production Research Co.

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