The study on assessing the structural reliability under the condition of ice loads against a floating body of the ocean plant structure in the polar regions

Abstract

The offshore structures should be able to conduct its proper function even while having varied environmental loads on the sea, and thus, when designing the structure, the various environment loads from the ocean should be considered. The environmental loads should be quantitatively measured over a long period of time, in order to be used as load conditions in the structural analysis, but a lot of time and excessive costs are required for the structural analysis. Therefore, it is necessary that the analysis of structural reliability should be conducted by considering the uncertainty of the environmental loads. In addition, even when manufacturing the offshore structure in shipyard, the uncertainties such as tolerance of the structure should be considered, which occurs frequently in the process of producing and manufacturing the structure. This paper explains an assessment process of structural safety while considering uncertainties under the condition that the floating structure employed in the polar region under the ice loads. The assessment method of the structural safety will be presented by carrying out the structural reliability analysis for the structure that can reasonably assess the safety of a floating structure. Finally, based on the results derived from the analysis of structural reliability, several guidelines in constructing and operating for the structure will be provided to the field.