Buckling Safety Analysis of Circumferentially Edge-Stiffened Openings in Offshore Tubular Steel Towers under Normal and Abnormal Design Situations of the Ultimate Limit State through Parametric and Finite Element Analyses

This study analyzes the buckling safety in the area of circumferentially edge-stiffened door openings without any additional longitudinal stiffeners of offshore tubular steel towers. The tubular steel tower is subjected to six (6) different load situations which are deemed to be normal and abnormal operating cases for the ultimate limit state. Analytical method using parametric equations based on Eurocode 3 - Design of Steel Structures and numerical method of finite element are used to analyze the critical meridional buckling stress. ABAQUS, a finite element program, is used for the numerical method analysis. Buckling safety analysis in the localized area near the opening is studied, and points of interest are defined for comparison between the two aforementioned analyses. Findings are tabulated and shown in illustrative charts, and conclusions are made.