TY - JOUR

T1 - Reliability-based design assessment of offshore inflatable barrier structures made of fibre-reinforced composites

AU - Aboshio, A.

AU - Uche, A.O.

AU - Akagwu, P.

AU - Ye, J.

N1 - This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Ocean Engineering. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Ocean Engineering, 233, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.109016

PY - 2021/8/1

Y1 - 2021/8/1

N2 - Analysis and design of inflatable structures made of fibre reinforced composites have been the focus of many researchers in recent times. As with most designs, sources of uncertainty, variability and bias in the performance of the designed structures exist and should normally be assessed. This paper thus, seeks to identify and quantify levels of uncertainties that are in the design of a typical inflatable fender barrier structure against impact loadings and conducts reliability-based evaluation toward understanding safety levels and factors of safety to be employed for its design and for similar structures. Using a previously validated 3D parametric fluid-structure interaction analysis results of the model, implicit limit state response surface-based performance functions were derived for the structural responses to loads for the complex stresses and strain modes of failures. The First Order Reliability Method (FORM) was used to evaluate the influence of the uncertainties in materials and load parameters and hence the safety margins for the modes of failures considered. The findings in this study will provide benchmark levels for practicing engineers in carrying out optimal design of similar inflatable structures with acceptable safety levels.

AB - Analysis and design of inflatable structures made of fibre reinforced composites have been the focus of many researchers in recent times. As with most designs, sources of uncertainty, variability and bias in the performance of the designed structures exist and should normally be assessed. This paper thus, seeks to identify and quantify levels of uncertainties that are in the design of a typical inflatable fender barrier structure against impact loadings and conducts reliability-based evaluation toward understanding safety levels and factors of safety to be employed for its design and for similar structures. Using a previously validated 3D parametric fluid-structure interaction analysis results of the model, implicit limit state response surface-based performance functions were derived for the structural responses to loads for the complex stresses and strain modes of failures. The First Order Reliability Method (FORM) was used to evaluate the influence of the uncertainties in materials and load parameters and hence the safety margins for the modes of failures considered. The findings in this study will provide benchmark levels for practicing engineers in carrying out optimal design of similar inflatable structures with acceptable safety levels.

KW - Fluid-structure interaction

KW - FORM

KW - Inflatable barriers

KW - Offshore structures

KW - Safety margin

U2 - 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.109016

DO - 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.109016

M3 - Journal article

VL - 233

JO - Ocean Engineering

JF - Ocean Engineering

SN - 0029-8018

M1 - 109016

ER -