GROUP REPAIR OF DENTED OFFSHORE TUBULAR BRACING - EXPERIMENTAL BEHAVIOR

A large-scale experimental test program was conducted to assess the re sidual strength and repair of dent-damaged offshore tubular bracing. T he program involved performing 13 tests that included nondamaged, dent -damaged, and repaired specimens. Damaged specimens had a dent depth o f 10% of their diameter. The nominal diameter-to-thickness (D/t) ratio s were 34.5, 46, and 64 for the specimens. The dent damage significant ly reduced the specimen's strength, indicating the need for repair. Th e repair of the dented specimens involved using internal grouting and a grouted steel sleeve. Test results showed that by arresting the dent -depth growth, both repair techniques were able to reinstate a damaged specimen's strength. Existing and newly developed ultimate-strength f ormulations for damaged members, and existing strength formulations fo r repaired members were evaluated through a comparison with specimen b ehavior. Results of the evaluation show a reasonable agreement with te st results.