On the 27th of March, 1980, after 40 months of service and in moderate seas, the floating drill platform "Alexander Kielland" suffered a catastrophic failure that caused it to capsize. The platform was being used as crew quarters for a nearby rig at the time of the incident. All those aboard were lost. Exponent investigated the capsizing, performing numerous analyses, including a simulation of the wave/structure interaction over the life of the rig, a fatigue and crack-growth analysis of the failed structural member, a calculation of the dynamic response of the damaged structure, and a flood analysis.

Materials/Metallurgy
Mechanical Engineering