The capacity of steel structures to yield and redistribute loads can contribute significantly to their ability to tolerate damage and to survive extreme events. This system reserve strength, beyond the design capacity of components, has recently been examined in a series of large-scale ultimate strength tests of a jacket type structure. As described in the paper, the 3D constraint of the frame has contributed to significant differences in the response mode and capacity of components in comparison with isolated test data on which current design practices are based. The project included an industry-wide exercise to benchmark analytical strength predictions against three of the eight test cases. Important guidelines for future best practice are now being formulated through the Structural Systems Group described.
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