ht. J. Pres. Ves.

& Piping 30 (1987) 193-204

The Stress Analysis of Rectangular Pressure Vessels

having Thin-walled Reinforcing Members

Zhao-jing Zeng
Nanjing Institute of Chemical Technology,
5 New Model Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, People’s Republic of China

Jia-ju Gao and Qi-shou Gu

Shanghai Institute of Chemical Technology,
30 Yun Ling Dong Road, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

(Received 9 April 1987, accepted 11 April 1987)

ABSTRACT

A modtfiedformula is presentedfor rectangular pressure vessels having thin-

walled reinforcing members. The formula is derived from the compatibility
that relates to shear deformation of the corner. Experimental results on full-
size vessels are reported. The results obtained from the authors' formula are
compared with those obtainedfrom the ASME Code and by theJinite element
method, which indicate that the modt$ed formula gives better accuracy.

NOMENCLATURE
A Cross-sectional area of corner
A, Cross-sectional area of corner web
E Modulus of elasticity
G Shear modulus
H Inside length of short side of rectangular vessel
h Inside length of long side of rectangular vessel
I Moment of inertia with respect to the neutral axis
M Midspan of long side
MQ Bending moment at corner
N Midspan of short side
P Internal pressure
193
ht. J. Pres. Vex & Piping 0308-0161/87/$03.50 0 Elsevier Applied Science Publishers Ltd,
England, 1987. Printed in Great Britain
194 Zhao-jing Zeng, Jia-ju Gao, Qi-shou Gu

P Pitch distance between reinforcing members

Ql End of long side
Q2 End of short side
S* First moment with respect to the neutral axis
Es Shear coefficient
z Shear stress

INTRODUCTION

There is one kind of rectangular pressure vessel for steam-heated sterilizers,

which has thin-walled reinforcing members (Fig. 1). The reinforcing
members act as a cooling water jacket when the sterilizer needs cooling. The
stresses measured by strain gauges during proof testing are larger than those
calculated by the ASME Code. These discrepancies have been investigated,
with shear deformation of the corner considered and new compatibility
established. A modified formula is derived and experiments are reported as
follows.

Fig. 1. Part of the rectangular pressure vessel.

CALCULATION MODEL

We take one of the reinforcing members combined with the wall of the
rectangular vessel as our analysis model, which is consistent with the ASME
Code procedure1,2 (Fig. 2).
According to the ASME Code procedure, the stresses located at the
outside of the midspan of the reinforcing member are (TV = - 58 kg cm- ’
 Stresses in rectangular PVs with thin-walled reinforcing members 195

Fig. 2. Combined reinforcing member.

and crhl = 1481 kgcm-’ respectively. But bN = 235 kgcmm2 and crh( =
1807 kgcm-’ by the finite element method (FEM). It is obvious that the
stresses obtained by the ASME Code are smaller than those calculated by
FEM.

ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENCE

ASME Code formulas are derived by means of rigid frame theory. This
assumes that the corner of the frame is rigid and that at the corner the right-
angle between long side and short side centrelines is maintained when
subjected to internal pressure. Usually, this assumption is correct. But when
the corner is composed of thin-walled members, and the web is thin and easy
to deform, the right-angle in the panel zone cannot be maintained.
Analyzing the result obtained by FEM,3 we find that shear stresses within
the panel zone of the corner are far larger than those in any other place. So
we assume that it is the larger shear deformation of the corner web that
makes it impossible to maintain the right-angle.

ANALYSIS OF COMPATIBILITY

Here we introduce a concept of shear rigidity to describe the effect of shear

deformation of the corner. The model to establish the compatibility
equation is shown in Fig. 3.6,8*9
For symmetry,
&o, + +o,02 + &,N = 0
where $o,02 represents relative change in angle of rotation between the long
side and short side centrelines in the corner, &ol represents relative change
196 Zhao-jing Zeng, Jia-ju Gao, Qi-shou Gu

2 P
“02
PPH A
i 02

CP

n
ra-
N

Fig. 3. Model to establish the compatibility equation.

in angle of rotation between the M cross-section and Q1 cross-section, and

the rest may be deduced by analogy.
Let $0102 = A8. For compatibility,4

A0 = &(Ha + h3) - &pQlh + MQ*H) (1)

Normally, the corner is considered rigid, that is A8 = 0, and assuming
MQ,=MQ2=MQ
we have
H3+h3
MQ = pp 12(H + h) (2)

Equation (2) is the same as that from rigid frame theory. But in this paper
we consider that the comer is deformable, i.e. A0 does not equal zero:
A8 = Aeb + AB”
where Aeb is caused by bending action, and AtI” is caused by shear action.
Neglecting A0b,9 we obtain
AO=Ae”=y=z/G (3)
where the angle y is not a strain at a point but rather the gross average panel
shear deformation.5*7*8
By separating the corner along the neutral axis of the short side member,
the free-body diagram in Fig. 4 is obtained.

i\ \\
t_____; I ’
-_A I’_-_-!
Fig. 4. Free-body diagram of corner.
 Stresses in rectangular PVs with thin-walled reinforcing members 197

Let Mo, = Mo, = Mo. For equlibrium,

(4)

where the factor /3 is a coefficient smaller than O-5. For I-shaped beams, box
4
beams and so on, we have
o?, = A/A, (5)
From eqns (l), (3), (4) and (5), we obtain
M = pp (H3 + h3)/12 + (HEIBIWJ
Q (2S*E/GA,) + H + h (6)

Normally, the magnitude of HEIfl/GA, is far smaller than that of

(h3 + H3)/12 and can be ignored. Then
(H3 + h3)/12
MQ = ” (2S*E/GA,) + H + h (7)
Equation (7) is our modified formula for MQ at the corner. Comparing eqn
(7) with eqn (2), we see that supplemental item 2S*E/GA, which relates to
shear rigidity is added in the denominator of eqn (7).
Moments at midspans follow by statics.6

COMPARISON OF RESULTS
Let us compare the results obtained from our modified formula with those
obtained from the ASME Code and by FEM.
Example 1
For a rectangular pressure vessel with h = H = 2000 mm, E/G = 2.6 and
P = 2.4 kg cmd2, the cross-section of the combined reinforcing member is
shown in Fig. 5.
120

Fig. 5. Cross-section of combined reinforcing member in Example 1.

 TABLE 1
Comparison of Results

Example

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

h (mm) 1065 1065 1500 1 200 1 500 1500 1200 1200 1500 1200
H (mm) 760 760 1000 800 800 1000 800 800 1000 800
P (mm) 230 115 250 250 250 200 150 200 160 200
4 (mm) 90 46.5 100 100 100 144 61.6 100 116 80.8
4 (mm) 90 90 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
tl, fz (mm) 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
t3 (mm) 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
oh4 FEM (kgcm-‘) 1429 1005 1807 1219 1857 1 156 934 945 1064 1085
ASME Stress (kg cm _ ‘) 1117 842 1481 964 1518 973 799 776 919 893
Code Absolute error -312 -163 -326 -256 - 339 - 183 - 135 -169 - 145 -192
Relative error -22% -16% -18% -21% -18% - 16% -14% -18% -14% -18%
Modified Stress (kg cm - *) 1279 937 1665 1152 1701 1097 889 885 1022 1010
formula Absolute error -150 -68 - 142 -67 -156 -59 -45 -60 -43 -75
Relative error - 10% -7% -8% -5% -8% -5% -5% -6% -4% -7%
FEM (kg cm *) 419 217 235 209 -172 120 177 153 122 209
ASME Stress (kgcm-*) 90 72 -58 -13 -458 - 4 - 9 3 - 6 -11
Code Absolute error - 329 - 145 - 293 - 222 -286 -124 -186 - 149 -128 -220
Modified Stress (kg cm - *) 268 167 126 131 -276 121 81 112 96 107
formula Absolute error -151 -50 109 -78 -104 1 -96 -41 -26 - 102
 Stresses in rectangular PVs with thin-walled reinforcing members 199

Fig. 6. Cross-section of combined reinforcing member in Examples 2-11

The results obtained from the ASME Code are:

a,=a,=468kgcm-’
The results obtained from our modified formula are:
a,=a,=486kgcmV2
Obviously, when the shear rigidity of the reinforcing member is larger, the
difference between the results obtained from the ASME Code and from the
authors’ formula is smaller.
1woL
ASYL Wm. -
lb@04 I*r bra ............
\ FLY. __-__
...
110.- . ...’
...
..\

-000 -

-000 -

-loo0 -

-lwo((c

Fig. 7. Stresses along outside of long side of the reinforcing member in Example 2 (R is the
distance apart from midspan).
200 Zhaojing Zeng, Jia-ju Gao, Qi-shou Gu

Examples 2-l 1

Take P = 2.4 kgcm- 2, E = 2.03 x lo6 kgcm-‘, Poisson’s ratio v = 0.3, and
E/G = 2(1 + v) = 2.6. The cross-section of the reinforcing member is shown
in Fig. 6.
The results are listed in Table 1 and Figs 7 and 8. From these we can see
that the modified formula gives better results in comparison with those from
FEM, when the shear rigidity of the corner is smaller.

500
ASWE form. -
LOO NW form. ............
\ FEM. - - -_-
\
300 i \

Fig. 8. Stresses along outside of short side of the reinforcing member in Example 2 (R is the
distance apart from midspan).

EXPERIMENTS

Experiment 1

This experiment used a full-size rectangular pressure vessel having thin-

walled reinforcing members (Fig. 1). The interior dimensions of the vessel are
1500 x 1000 x 2200mm. There are eight sections of reinforcing members
which act as a cooling water jacket. The cross-section of the vessel’s
 Stresses in rectangular PVs with thin-walled reinforcing members 201

Fig. 9. Stresses along outside of long side of the reinforcing member in Experiment 1 (R is
the distance apart from midspan).

combined reinforcing members is the same as in Example 4 and the vessel

is made of lCrl8Ni9Ti. The test pressure is 2-4 kgcmm2. Let E=
2-03 x lo6 kg cm- 2 , ‘v = 0.3. Strain gauges are arranged along the outside of
the fourth reinforcing member which is located at the centre of the vessel.
The results are shown in Fig. 9 and Table 2.
TABLE 2
Comparison of Results of ch(

Experiment I Experiment 2

Reinforcing member 4 3 4
Measured stress (kg cm - 2, 1866 1374 1487
ASME Stress (kg cme2) 1481 1117 1117
Code Absolute error -385 -257 -370
Relative error -21% - 19% -25%
Modified Stress (kgcxn2) 1665 1279 1279
formula Absolute error -201 -95 -208
Relative error -11% -7% - 14%
202 Zhao-jing Zeng, Jia-ju Gao, Qi-shou Gu

New lwm. _
l?rp.stN0 -----

-12ooc

Fig. 10. Stresses along outside of long side of the reinforcing member in Experiment 2 (R is
the distance apart from midspan).

Experiment 2

This experiment used a full-size rectangular pressure vessel having thin-

walled reinforcing members. The interior dimensions of the vessel are
1065 x 760 x 1600mm. The vessel is made of 16Mn steel. There are seven
sections of reinforcing members made of A3 steel. The cross-section
of the combined reinforcing members is shown in Fig. 6. Take E =
2.1 x 106kgcmP2, v = 0.3. Strain gauges are located at the third and
fourth reinforcing members. The results are shown in Table 2 and Figs 10
and 11.

CONCLUSIONS
1. For rectangular pressure vessels having thin-walled reinforcing
members the corner should be considered as deformable. Shear
rigidity can be used to describe the magnitude of rigidity of the
corner. New compatibility should be established.
2. When the shear rigidity of the combined reinforcing members is
larger, the results obtained from the authors’ formula are almost the
 Stresses in rectangular PVs with thin-walled reinforcing members 203

AWL form. -
400 _.-.-
t NW term
h
“..> Exp. 11111 3 -- - -
300 - '... NW Exp. 511ff 4 ............
.'.. \
":\
*Oa - \J$

100 '..\
\\ '. \
. ': \
0

-100.
n
'E
Y -2oo-
m
f
-3oo-
d
-LOO-

-500.

-500 -

-7oo-

-wo-

-9oo-

-1000
t

Fig. 11. Stresses along outside of short side of the reinforcing member in Experiment 2 (R is
the distance apart from midspan).

same as the results obtained from the ASME Code formulas. But
when the shear rigidity of the combined reinforcing members is
smaller, the difference between the two results is larger.
3. The stresses calculated by using the formula presented in this paper
are approximately equal to those calculated by FEM.
4. Strain gauge measurements were carried out on two full-size
rectangular pressure vessels having thin-walled reinforcing members.
The results indicate that the measured stresses are almost identical to
those obtained from the authors’ formula.
5. The formula presented here is suitable for combined reinforcing
members having various shapes, especially having thin-walled web.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are especially thankful to Hong-ten Cen, Lu Wang, Jien-zong

Jang, Tian-yi Huan, Tie-li Ding, and Sheng-li Lu for their particular
assistance in the fabrication and testing.
204 Zhao-jing Zeng, Jia-ju Gao, Qi-shou Gu

REFERENCES

1. ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Division Z, 1983 Edition.
2. Faupel, J. H., Pressure vessels of noncircular cross section (commentary on New
Rules for ASME Code), Trans. ASME, J. Pres. Ves. Tech., 101 (1979) 255-67.
3. Hei-lin Qian, Finite Program for Plate and Shell (software).
4. Timoshenko, S. and Gere, J., Mechanics of Materials, Van Nostrand Reinhold,
1972.
5. Ansourian, P., Shear in Composite Beam-to-column Connections, PB82- 187246.
6. Cater, A., The stress analysis of rectangular structure subjected to internal
pressure, Trans. ASME, J. Pres. Ves. Tech., 105 (1983) 241-4.
7. Fielding, D. J. and Huang, J. S., Shear in steel beam-to-column connections,
Welding Journal, Research Supplement, July 1971, pp. 315-S-326-S.
8. Fielding, D. J. and Chen, W. F., Steel frame analysis and connection shear
deformation, J. Struct. Div., ASCE, 99 (STl) (1973) 1-18.
9. Krawinkler, H., Bertero, V. V. and Popov, E. P., Shear behavior of steel frame
joints, J. Struct. Div., ASCE, 101 (ST1 1) (1975) 2317-36.