Foreword
Fatigue and fracture are significant failure modes for marine and offshore structures which are subject to
wave, vibration, and other loads throughout their service lives. In general, stress concentrations and
residual stress exist at weldments and heat affected zones (HAZ) and at other critical areas with
irregularities in the geometry where fatigue and fracture may occur. Marine and offshore structures are
usually designed for a service life using detailed structural analysis considering dynamic loads and
predetermined material fatigue properties. Under cyclic loading, fatigue damage may occur, and a macro
crack may initiate, propagate from an existing defect, a discontinuity, or a stress riser, and eventually lead
to fracture. These Guidance Notes provide a general procedure for crack propagation analysis and
structural integrity assessment for marine and offshore structures with a defect, a discontinuity, or a stress
riser.
These Guidance Notes provide guidelines for determining the long-term stress range distribution in the
form of a stress range histogram at a critical location on a marine or offshore structure under wave-induced
loads, vibration-induced loads, or combined loads. The stress range histogram is employed for the crack
propagation analysis for a flawed structure based on fracture mechanics theory. Additionally, the fracture
mechanics method is introduced, including stress intensity factors for various flaw configurations and
crack propagation analysis following Paris’ law. Based on the failure assessment diagram (FAD), the
structural integrity assessment can be performed for a structure with a known defect, flaw, or discontinuity.
In marine and offshore applications, crack propagation analysis also can be conducted to predict the
remaining life of a defective structure in service.
The objective of this document is to provide guidance for the fracture analysis not covered by the ABS
Rules and Guides and supplement the design and analysis requirements issued for the Classification of
specific types of marine and offshore structures.
The effective date of these Guidance Notes is the first day of the month of publication.
Users are advised to check periodically on the ABS website www.eagle.org to verify that this version of
these Guidance Notes is the most current.
We welcome your feedback. Comments or suggestions can be sent electronically by email to rsd@eagle.org
Terms of Use
The information presented herein is intended solely to assist the reader in the methodologies and/or
techniques discussed. These Guidance Notes do not and cannot replace the analysis and/or advice of a
qualified professional. It is the responsibility of the reader to perform their own assessment and obtain
professional advice. Information contained herein is considered to be pertinent at the time of publication
but may be invalidated as a result of subsequent legislations, regulations, standards, methods, and/or more
updated information and the reader assumes full responsibility for compliance. Where there is a conflict
between this document and the applicable ABS Rules and Guides, the latter will govern. This publication
may not be copied or redistributed in part or in whole without prior written consent from ABS.
ABS GUIDANCE NOTES ON FRACTURE ANALYSIS FOR MARINE AND OFFSHORE STRUCTURES • 2022 ii
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