Documents published in Scipedia

• Multi-scale procedure for the mechanical analysis of composite laminate structures considering mixed boundary conditions

  F. Turon, F. Otero, X. Martinez

  (2023).

  
  

  Abstract

  This paper presents a multi-scale procedure for the study of flat composite structures with discontinuities. In this procedure, the structure is solved using shell elements while the laminate performance and the structural discontinuities (e.g. connections or change in the laminate thickness) are analysed with a subscale model made with solid 3D elements. The kinematics of both models are coupled following the Kirchhoff–Love theory. This coupling is used during the homogenization procedure where the characteristic behaviour of the different micro-models is obtained. Periodical boundary conditions are used for the laminates whereas a combination between periodical and linear boundary conditions are used for the discontinuities. The proposed procedure allows to reproduce accurately the structure elastic behaviour, as well as the stress and strain states in regions with discontinuities, which until now could only be accurately simulated by means of expensive numerical models using volumetric solid elements.

  Abstract
  This paper presents a multi-scale procedure for the study of flat composite structures with discontinuities. In this procedure, the structure is solved using shell elements [...]

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• Multiscale approach for the analysis of composite connections and stiffeners in marine shell structures

  F. Turon, F. Otero, X. Martinez

  marine2023.

  
  

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• FRP Offshore Structure Connections Optimization and Validation by Classification Society standards

  A. Borrás, F. Otero, X. Martinez

  marine2023.

  
  

  Abstract

  This paper discusses the use of composite materials in the design process of a horizontal bracing to column connection of an offshore semi-submersible platform to support two wind turbines. The geometry of the connection was optimized to improve the performance and reliability of the connection, columns and bracing tubes. These offshore foundations usually deal with massive structural tubes, and they are used to fit a huge amount of stiffeners. This paper will show how using some horizontal stiffeners combined with their intersection with horizontal bracings tubes, can improve drastically the behavior of the connection. A comparison between conventional materials (steel) and advanced materials (E-glass fibres and epoxy matrix) was performed and it was demonstrated how the use of composite materials makes necessary to modify the connection geometry and configuration to obtain an equivalent performance. This is due to the very different stiffness behavior shown by composites and steel. Therefore, the design of an offshore connection must be approached differently according to the used material. The composite laminate layout design process was also made. The material was evaluated using a Bureau Veritas normative note specifically applicable to composite ship hulls, but adapted to the needs of the materials used in this design, in terms of raw material requirements. The design process of a laminate panel of the connection is shown using the above mentioned standard. All data and results shown here were harvested within the scope of the European research project Fibregy (EU Horizon 2020, Ref. 952966).

  Abstract
  This paper discusses the use of composite materials in the design process of a horizontal bracing to column connection of an offshore semi-submersible platform to support [...]

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• Damage detection in a fiber reinforced polymers based tower of a floating offshore wind and tidal power platform using structural dynamic parameters

  P. Sierra, X. Martinez, R. Chacon, F. Otero, F. Turon

  Materiales Compuestos (2022). Vol. 07 - COMUNICACIONES MATCOMP21 (2022), (Núm. 2 - Aplicaciones Industriales - Caracterización), 170

  
  

  Abstract

  The development of offshore renewable energy structures is growing at a fast pace, and their maintenance will become critical in further years. Because steel corrosion on offshore structures is one of their highest maintenance cost, researchers are working to replace steel by Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRP), due to their immunity to corrosion. This is done in the EU H2020 funded project FIBREGY, which also seeks improving maintenance costs by incorporating Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) strategies. A critical issue in SHM is the damage detection process, which is addressed in this paper. This study aims to characterize the dynamic behaviour of an offshore windmill FRP tower, and its evolution due the presence of structural damage. This analysis will be carried out using a Finite Element Model (FEM) of the structure, and the Serial-Parallel mixing theory to characterize the material performance. A sensitivity analysis of the changes in the dynamic response of the tower (frequencies and modal shapes) produced by structural damage is carried out. This analysis will provide the optimum design variables and objective functions required by a damage detection algorithm. The algorithm is optimization based, since it converts the damage detection problem into a mathematical one, and finds the best design variables to minimize the objective function. The algorithm is also model based, as it uses the structural model to obtain the objective function for the proposed design variables. Finally, this work presents the analysis of a potential damage scenario, in order to evaluate if the damage is effectively detected.

  Abstract
  The development of offshore renewable energy structures is growing at a fast pace, and their maintenance will become critical in further years. Because steel corrosion on [...]

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