Study on Static Strength of Y-joint of Offshore Platform

Tubular joints are the key parts of the offshore platform structures. Taking a typical tubular Y type joint as an example, the finite element method is used to study the static strength of tubular Y type joint. Finite element model for tubular Y type joint is built by using ABAQUS software. By using a series of different loads, the load of Y-joint failure is calculated. The stress of the Y-joint when joint failure occurred under axial tension, in-plane bending and out-of-plane bending are calculated with ABAQUS software. It is found that the axial tensile load is 1 430 kN when joint failure occurred, the in-plane bending and the out-of-plane bending are 37.28 kN·m and 17.69 kN·m respectively. Sensitivity study has been done by changing the wall thickness of the chord, the maximum stress and the deformation of the Y-joint under external load are calculated. The study results show that the stress and deformation of Y-joints decrease with the increase of chord wall thickness.