Innovative test concept for evaluating fatigue degradation process of submerged grouted connections

verfasst von: Jakob Michael Borgelt, Joshua Possekel, Peter Schaumann, Dennis Dreger, Elyas Ghafoori
Abstract: Grouted connections are hybrid joints fabricated by linking two overlapping steel tubes
with different diameters by filling the annulus with grout material. Offshore structures
are considerably subjected to dynamic loading. Hence, the fatigue behaviour of
grouted connections typically used in the different components of these structures is of
particular interest. This study presents a new test concept for cyclic axially loaded
grouted connections with fibre optical sensory integrated into the grout annulus. It aims
to provide insight into the mechanisms of damage initiation and propagation through
real-time crack detection. Specimens have been designed such that they can be
reused in several experiments, thus significantly reducing the time and cost of the test
program. Test results show that the fatigue degradation behaviour of axially loaded
grouted connections can be divided into three different phases according to its
advancement: stable, incremental, and progressive degradation. Certain cracks have
been observed to exert a slight influence on the connections performance. Moreover,
phase changes are not directly characterised by the appearance of cracks but by their
widening progress. The overall test concept including the novel reusable test specimen
and measurement setup is found to be functional. They provide an opportunity to gain
insight into the degradation mechanism of grouted connections under cyclic loading.
Organisationseinheit(en): Institut für Stahlbau
Leibniz Forschungszentrum Energie 2050
Institut für Baustoffe
Typ: Artikel
Journal: Engineering Structures
Band: 302
ISSN: 0141-0296
Publikationsdatum: 01.03.2024
Publikationsstatus: Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed: Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete: Tief- und Ingenieurbau
Elektronische Version(en): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.117335 (Zugang: Geschlossen)

BibTeX

@article{a5da444733404ee9b664cd8dc93ec54c,
title = "Innovative test concept for evaluating fatigue degradation process of submerged grouted connections",
abstract = "Grouted connections are hybrid joints fabricated by linking two overlapping steel tubeswith different diameters by filling the annulus with grout material. Offshore structuresare considerably subjected to dynamic loading. Hence, the fatigue behaviour ofgrouted connections typically used in the different components of these structures is ofparticular interest. This study presents a new test concept for cyclic axially loadedgrouted connections with fibre optical sensory integrated into the grout annulus. It aimsto provide insight into the mechanisms of damage initiation and propagation throughreal-time crack detection. Specimens have been designed such that they can bereused in several experiments, thus significantly reducing the time and cost of the testprogram. Test results show that the fatigue degradation behaviour of axially loadedgrouted connections can be divided into three different phases according to itsadvancement: stable, incremental, and progressive degradation. Certain cracks havebeen observed to exert a slight influence on the connections performance. Moreover,phase changes are not directly characterised by the appearance of cracks but by theirwidening progress. The overall test concept including the novel reusable test specimenand measurement setup is found to be functional. They provide an opportunity to gaininsight into the degradation mechanism of grouted connections under cyclic loading.",
keywords = "Grouted Connections, Fatigue Degradation Mechanism, Fibre Bragg Grating Sensory, Structural Health Monitoring, Structural Integrity, Reusability",
author = "Borgelt, {Jakob Michael} and Joshua Possekel and Peter Schaumann and Dennis Dreger and Elyas Ghafoori",
note = "The research is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economics and Climate Action (project no. 03SX505B). The author is grateful to PAGEL Spezial-Beton GmbH & Co., KG for providing the grout material used in this study.",
year = "2024",
month = mar,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.117335",
language = "English",
volume = "302",
journal = "Engineering Structures",
issn = "0141-0296",
publisher = "Elsevier BV",
}