Laminated Rubber Articulated Joint for the Deep Water Gravity Tower

Abstract

The Deep Water Gravity Tower is an articulated structure resting on a fixed base through an articulated joint which is composed of curved laminated rubber pads, made from alternate layers of rubber and metallic shims. The paper first outlines the main design concept with the articulated joint. Some analysis is then provided of the response to imposed rotation and vertical load. This includes a brief description of the results of a finite element analysis. The paper then reviews the tests performed on laminated rubber during 1980 and 1981 to assess the feasibility of the articulation: fatigue tests; environmental tests (effect of sea water, temperature, pressure).