Physical Testing Campaign Facilitating Validation of Welded Steel Structures by Non-Linear Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

Non-linear finite element (FE) analysis is a powerful tool for determination of ultimate capacities of steel components. To produce reliable predictions of structural strength, it is of fundamental importance that non-linear finite element analyses are based on a validated methodology. This paper focuses on physical test campaigns, which are designed with the purpose of providing an experimental foundation for calibrated and validated non-linear finite element assessments of plated components, which form part of typical offshore structures. The experimental work discussed in the current paper is a continuation of the experiments of tubular members and joints, which were carried out by Maersk Oil in the late nineties. The objective is that the two-test campaigns together shall allow for development of a non-linear finite element methodology with calibrated failure criteria providing either characteristic or mean level of capacity/response for the main details in typical offshore structures. This paper particularly focuses on the testing campaign completed in 2017 which forms the basis for the calibration of the failure criteria covering plated sections.