Ultimate Strength and Fatigue Durability of Steel Reinforced Rubber Loading Hoses

Loading hoses in an offshore loading buoy system in the North Sea were investigated with respect to extreme load resistance and fatigue durability. Both experimental work and fatigue life analyses were carried out. The FLS test is based on the principle of a service simulation test according to the American Petroleum Institute (API) 17B guidelines. The test results given in number of endured cycles from the laboratory test are scaled to the in-service conditions. Although the life estimate is based on one full scale test only, an attempt has been made to account for the inherent scatter in fatigue life. Furthermore, the results are validated by large test series with small scale test specim…