Abstract
Certain problems associated with the design of off-shore structures against the possibility of fatigue failure are described. The various types of exploration and production platforms at present operated in the North Sea and the nature of the forces to which these are subjected in service are discussed. In the early stages of exploration in the North Sea a number of instances occurred of failures due, to fatigue. These and other failures prompted the production of recommended codes of practice for the design and construction of offshore structures, and these are briefly outlined. It is pointed out that there are some limitations in the application of these codes and a more recent alternative approach using linear elastic fracture mechanics is mentioned. A current UK research programme, which will provide valuable data, is summarized.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.