The complex structure on the left is part of a facility used for offshore oil exploration. As can be seen, this is a framed structure. Frames are major structural components in many engineering structures.
Applications vary from simple roof trusses to very complex structures such as the one illustrated.
The design and assessment of such components require consideration in strength, fatigue and fracture. The finite element method is used to simulate the behaviour of joints of complex geometry and welded joints with material heterogeneity. Analysis of complete frame structures is desirable so that load paths and magnitudes are computed correctly. Local stress-strain history, and failure modes and their locations can then be evaluated precisely. Accurate predictions of static collapse behaviour for aging structures are essential so that reserve strength and likelihood of damage can be assessed.