Stress Concentration Factors in Uniplanar Tubular KT-Joints of Jacket Structures Subjected to In-Plane Bending Loads

In the present research, data extracted from the stress analysis of 46 finite element models, verified using test results obtained from an experimental investigation, were used to study the effect of geometrical parameters on the chord-side stress concentration factors (SCFs) of central and outer braces in uniplanar tubular KT-joints of offshore structures subjected to four different types of in-plane bending (IPB) loads. Parametric study was followed by a set of the nonlinear regression analyses to develop SCF parametric equations for the fatigue analysis and design of uniplanar tubular KT-joints under IPB loadings.