A Review of Structural Durability and Probabilistic Damage Tolerance

The main purpose of this paper is providing a reference for further research. According to the papers and reports on structural durability and probabilistic damage tolerance, the present paper summarized the pro- gress of the theoretical considerations and engineering application. Several models used in structural durability and probabilistic damage tolerance are reviewed. The characteristics and problems of these methods are ana- lyzed. A new kind of combined analysis model on structural durability and damage tolerance are also introduced. New progress of analysis theory and numerical methods on structural reliability are discussed, such as the re- sponse surface method and numerical method combining neural networks and Monte Carlo simulation. The analy- sis shows that these methods can improve computational efficiency significantly and maintain high computational accuracy. Finally, some prospects of the key research directions are discussed.

Prediction of the Residual Strength for Durability Failure of Concrete Structure in Acidic Environments

According to the results of accelerated tests of acidification corrosion depth and compressive strength of concretes subjected to sulfuric acid environments,the acidification depth laws of concretes were predicted based on the grey system theory.Thus,the remaining compressive strength was calculated when the acidification depth reached the protection layer thickness of concrete structures,which indicates that the limit state of durability failure can be defined based on strength degradation,and the calculation process was illustrated by an example.The calculated results show that the remaining compressive strength values in the durability failure limit state for the concrete structures exposed to p H=2 and 3 sulfuric acid water environments and wet-dry cyclic sulfuric acid environment with p H=2 are 74%,72%,and 80% of initialstrength,respectively.The method provides references for the durability evaluation of concrete structure design under the acidic environments.

Fluid-structure Interaction Analysis and Lifetime Estimation of a Natural Gas Pipeline Centrifugal Compressor under Near-choke and Near-surge Conditions

Up to present, there have been no studies concerning the application of fluid-structure interaction（FSI） analysis to the lifetime estimation of multi-stage centrifugal compressors under dangerous unsteady aerodynamic excitations. In this paper, computational fluid dynamics（CFD） simulations of a three-stage natural gas pipeline centrifugal compressor are performed under near-choke and near-surge conditions, and the unsteady aerodynamic pressure acting on impeller blades are obtained. Then computational structural dynamics（CSD） analysis is conducted through a one-way coupling FSI model to predict alternating stresses in impeller blades. Finally, the compressor lifetime is estimated using the nominal stress approach. The FSI results show that the impellers of latter stages suffer larger fluctuation stresses but smaller mean stresses than those at preceding stages under near-choke and near-surge conditions. The most dangerous position in the compressor is found to be located near the leading edge of the last-stage impeller blade. Compressor lifetime estimation shows that the investigated compressor can run up to 102.7 h under the near-choke condition and 200.2 h under the near-surge condition. This study is expected to provide a scientific guidance for the operation safety of natural gas pipeline centrifugal compressors.

Study on Failure Possibility of Full Containment LNG Storage Tanks with API 581 Risk-based Inspection

The total storage of full containment LNG storage tanks is very huge. Once the tank rupture or leakage, the consequence will be unimaginable. Therefore it is necessary to perform the risk-based inspection （RBI） and evaluation on LNG storage tanks, and the analysis on LNG storage tanks failure possibility is especially important in the RBI. Recently, Risk-based inspection （RBI） technology based on API 581 is gradually adopted and has become a new technology to determine economic feasibility and safety of equipment in petrochemical plants. However, there are limitations of applying API 581 to LNG equipment because of the unique structure of LNG storage tank （the metal inner tank and concrete outer tank）. Therefore, a failure probability calculation model suitable for full containment LNG storage tanks is proposed. The domestic inner tank is usually made of 9%Ni, and its failure possibility can be calculate based on API581; the outer tank is usually made of pre-stressed concrete, and the failure possibility of structure durability can be calculated by the method of fuzzy mathematics ; Then the failure possibility of the inner tank and the outer tank will be comprehensive considered by using cellulose model. Finally, by citing a real example, it also detailedly introduces the application of this proposed calculation model in the failure possibility analysis of full containment LNG storage tanks. This study provides a new approach for the evaluation of failure possibility on full containment LNG storage tanks.

Concept and requirements of sustainable development in bridge engineering

The concept of sustainability is described in this paper using a single sustainable principle,two goals of sustainable development,three dimensions of sustainable engineering,four sustainable requirements and five phases of sustainable construction.Four sustainable requirements and their practice in China are discussed in particular.The safe reliability of bridges is first compared with the events of bridge failure in China and in the rest of the world and followed by structural durability,including the cracking of concrete cable-stayed bridges,deflection of concrete girder bridges and fatigue cracks of orthotropic steel decks.With respect to functional adaptability,lateral wind action on vehicles and its improvement are introduced regarding a sea-crossing bridge located in a typhoon-prone area.The Chinese practice of using two double main span suspension bridges and a twin parallel deck cable-stayed bridge is presented in discussing the final sustainable requirement:capacity extensibility.