3-DIMENSIONAL FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF A TUBULAR T-JOINT UNDER COMBINED AXIAL AND BENDING LOADING

Three-dimensional finite element studies were conducted on hot-spot st resses for a tubular T-joint under combined axial and bending loading. Two sets of combined loading components, axial plus inplane bending ( IPB) and axial plus out-of-plane bending (OPE), were investigated for five different combined axial-to-bending stress ratios of 0.2, 0.5, 1. 0, 2.0 and 5.0. The finite element results for the peak hot-spot stres s were compared with the results obtained from the API RP2A code proce dure using a superposition method for combined loading. The finite ele ment studies also provide the complete hot-spot stress distributions a round the intersection, and this information indicates the location of the peak hot-spot stress where fatigue cracking is expected to occur.