Effects of reinforcement on the ultimate strength of tubular Joints of offshore jacket platform

The current status of the Oil and Gas industry in terms of technological advances in oil
recovery techniques, and market forces, has lead to a requirement for offshore platforms to
remain operational for longer than original estimations. The economics of such an extension to
the service life will be more favorable if enhancement of the fatigue life prior to deterioration of
the integrity of the structural components that may be expected as the structure approaches the
end of its original design life. A grout filled tubular member with an unreinforced cementitious
grout material, forming a composite load carrying section. The increase in load carrying capacity
of the member is predominately in compression and bending. Tensile strength is not increase as
the grout is only confined by the tubular and not attached directly to the end supports. In addition
as the grout is unreinforced its tensile strength is small relative to its compressive strength.
Written in this report are the details of research to determine the influence of grout injection in
life span enhancement of tubular joints of jacket platform. In this research, author specifies the
type of joint which is the T -joint. Results of the lab testing shows that grout filled tubular Tjoints
has the highest ultimate load compared to unreinforced or hollow tubular T -joints.
However due to the presence of the grout, reinforcement has caused the specimen to be brittle.
Failures of such reinforced tubular T -joints are sudden and abrupt without any yielding
behaviour.