ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the effect of different retrofitting techniques in enhancing the strength of cracked swash bulkheads subjected to compressive loading. A series of finite element analyses are performed for an internal swash bulkhead of a jack-up sup can, in which several cracks were observed around the corners of the existing openings during the maintenance operations. The spud-cans act as temporary foundations for the jack-up structure. The chapter considers different loading conditions for which the swash bulkheads are subjected during the service life. A plot of the increment percentage of the ultimate load carrying capacity with respect to the swash bulkhead without any reinforcement, for both reinforcement arrangements; collar and doubler plates. For long edge loading, it was observed that both reinforcement layouts; full collar and doubler showed almost the same enhancement of the strength capacity with respect to the swash bulkhead without any reinforcement.
