A detailed survey (1-4)† of the variations in crown curvature, knuckle curvature and thickness of a number of thin torispherical pressure vessel ends has shown that actual dimensions may differ significantly from nominal dimensions.
Numerical stress analysis using the finite element method has been carried out to assess the effects of these shape imperfections on the stresses in some of the thin torispherical pressure vessel ends considered in reference (4). The results have been compared with those for the corresponding perfect ends. In several cases significant increases in stress levels are predicted due to thickness and especially curvature variations.
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2.
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3.
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4.
StanleyP.CampbellT. D.‘Very thin torispherical pressure vessel ends under internal pressure: Strains, deformations and buckling behaviour’, J. Strain Analysis, 1981, 16, 187–200.
5.
IDEAS (Integrated Design Engineering Analysis Software), Solid Modelling and Finite Element Modelling User's Manual, 1993 (Structural Dynamics Research Corporation, USA).
6.
ABAQUS User's Manual, Version 5.4, 1993 (Hibbit, Karlson and Sorensen Inc., Providence, Rhode Island).
7.
GalletlyG. D.MoffatD. G.Pressure Vessel Design: Concepts and Principles, edited by J. Spence and A. S. Tooth, 1994 (E&FN Spon, an imprint of Chapman and Hall), Chapter 7, pp. 245–289.
8.
FesslerH.StanleyP.‘Stresses in torispherical drumheads: A critical evaluation’, J. Strain Analysis, 1966, 1, 89–101.
9.
TafreshiA.FennerR. T.‘Design optimisation using the boundary element method’. J. Strain Analysis, 1991, 26, 231–241.
10.
TafreshiA.FennerR. T.‘Design sensitivity analysis using the boundary element method’, J. Strain Analysis, 1993, 28, 283–291.
