Generation and application of a standardized load-time history to tubular T-joints in offshore platforms

Marine structures are mostly made of metals and always experience complex random loading during their service periods. The fatigue crack growth behaviors of metal materials have been proved from laboratory tests to be sensitive to the loading sequence encountered. In order to take account of the loading sequence effect, fatigue life prediction should be based on fatigue crack propagation (FCP) theory rather than the currently used cumulative fatigue damage (CFD) theory. A unified fatigue life prediction (UFLP) method for marine structures has been proposed by the authors' group. In order to apply the UFLP method for newly designed structures, authorities such as the classification societies should provide a standardized load-time history (SLH) such as the TWIST and FALSTAFF sequences for transport and fighter aircraft. This paper mainly aims at proposing a procedure to generate the SLHs for marine structures based on a short-term loading sample and to provide an illustration on how to use the presented SLH to a typical tubular T-joint in an offshore platform based on the UFLP method.