Configuring Marine Riser Tapered Stress Joints Used in Top-Supported Applications

The objective of this paper is to present a direct and useful method for establishing the configuration of tapered stress joints for marine risers so that stress levels are fairly balanced over the length of the stress joint and within acceptable stress levels. The method of solution approximates straight tapered stress joints with one, whose cross sectional moment of inertia varies parabolically along the stress joint. This approximation leads to the classic Euler type differential equation, which can be solved directly giving a closed form solution. The formulation of deflection and stresses should be of use to designers of marine tubulars. Even though the focus of the study is on a static analysis of top located stress joints, the method of solution can be adapted to mudline attachment locations as well as dynamic analyses.