Grouting and Welding Combined Joint for Deepwater Platform Columns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection methods for deepwater floating oil production platforms face challenges in ensuring stability and fatigue resistance due to the difficulty in accurately positioning columns with large and small cross sections during installation, limited adaptability to different diameters, and irreversible plastic deformation, which poses technical and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A grouting and welding combined connection joint that includes a grouting system with shear keys, diaphragm, and two-layer fixing devices, along with prefabricated brackets and stiffeners, allowing for secure connection and load transfer between columns with different cross sections, using grouting material with fibers for enhanced fatigue resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If hydraulic forging connection equipment is used to plastically deform the outer wall plate, then the columns are connected as a whole by full strength, but the accuracy control requirement for relative positions of grooves is high and difficult to ensure during motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the columns with large and small cross sections before connection, and using fixing devices to maintain their relative positions during the grouting process. This ensures that the grooves remain accurately aligned throughout the connection operation, eliminating the difficulty of maintaining position accuracy during motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces grouting material as an intermediary substance that fills the annular space between the columns and bonds them together. This grouting process provides a more forgiving connection method that does not require the same level of positional precision as hydraulic forging, while still achieving full-strength connection.
2Strength
If hydraulic expanding tube is used for connection, then the columns are connected as a whole, but it is difficult to adapt to connections of columns with large diameter, bringing limitation to design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal connection system that can accommodate columns of various diameters through the annular space configuration. The grouting and welding combined connection joint can be applied to different sized columns by simply adjusting the dimensions of the annular space, making the system versatile and adaptable to various design requirements without limitation.
3Strength
If plastic deformation is used for connection, then the columns are connected as a whole, but the process is not reversible and poses technical and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using welding to create a permanent, reliable bond between the columns before grouting. This preliminary welding ensures structural integrity and reversibility, allowing the connection to be made with full strength while maintaining safety and reliability throughout the platform's operational life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining grouting material with welding to create a hybrid connection system. This composite approach leverages the advantages of both methods: welding provides strong, reliable, and potentially reversible connection, while grouting fills the annular space and provides additional bonding, resulting in a connection that is both strong and safe.
4Productivity
If columns are connected in motion state with small operating space, then the installation can be completed, but the installation time is restricted and environmental conditions limit the operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using fixing devices to secure the columns in their correct positions before the actual connection process. This preliminary positioning ensures that once the columns are placed, they remain stable and accurately aligned, allowing the grouting and welding operations to proceed efficiently without time constraints or environmental limitations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a reliable, cost-effective, and stable connection method that ensures no relative movement between columns, enhances structural safety, and improves fatigue life by distributing loads effectively through grouting and welding, even in deepwater conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a grouting system disposed inside an annular space formed by an inner wall of a central pore canal of a column with large cross section and an outer wall of a column with small cross section
Implementation Method 2
a group of brackets welded on a top deck of the column with small cross section and the inner shell of the central pore canal of the column with large cross section
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a grouting and welding combined connection joint and an offshore installation method thereof, characterized in that: it comprises a set of grouting systems disposed inside of the annular space formed by an inner shell of the central pore canal of a column with large cross section and an outer wall of a column with small cross section, as well as a group of brackets welded on a top deck of a column with small cross section and an inner shell of the central pore canal of the column with large cross section. The grouting and welding combined connection joint provided by the present disclosure has advantages of being able to adapt to the connection of different dimensions of columns, and having simple offshore installation, highly reliable structural safety and low cost.