This thesis presents a study of the ultimate strength capacity of two offshore platforms located in the Gulf of Mexico. The objective of the study was to validate existing non-linear finite element models for estimating the loads and strength of offshore platforms. / From August 24 to 26 1992, hurricane Andrew moved through the Gulf of Mexico with sustained winds of 140 miles per hour. Thirty-six major platforms suffered significant damage, of these, ten were completely toppled and twenty-six were leaning significantly or had significant topside damage. / Structures "H" and "K" were bridge-connected platforms, located in the ST151 field of the South Timbalier area of the Gulf of Mexico, platform "H" collapsed during Andrew, while "K" survived undamaged. They were both designed, fabricated, and installed in the early 1960's. / A push-over analysis, using the program USFOS was used to estimate the ultimate strength of the two structures in three direction: end-on, diagonal and broadside. / In the first series of analyses, all the primary members such as legs, vertical and horizontal braces, piles, soil, conductors and deck structure were precisely defined with appropriate finite elements as well as secondary members such as conductors guides barge bumpers. In the second series of analyses it was assumed that there was no horizontal or vertical movements at the level of the mudmat. In the third series of analysis the model used in the first series of analysis was modified by increasing stiffness and resistance of the piles 10 times. Finally a fourth model was investigated in which the soil resistance of the mud-level horizontal members is modelled. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.22639 |
| Date | January 1995 |
| Creators | Ahmadi-Nedushan, Behrooz, 1966- |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Engineering (Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001460863, proquestno: MM05438, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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