How Are Stresses Calculated in Non-Standard Shaped Pressure Vessels?

[tuoni]

Are there standard algorithms for calculating stresses (axial, radial) in pressure vessels? I have found pages detailing circular cylindrical, thin- and thick-walled pressure vessels. However, what about other shapes?

Are there some equations I can use to integrate to find stresses for e.g. cylindrical cones, hemispheres, and other shapes? I.e. if I have a circular cone, and know the function for the curvature of the tapering side (straight, ellipse, tangent, power, parabola, etc.), I can find the stresses.

 

[CFDFEAGURU]

You should use the Roark manual.

Here is a link to it.

http://www.roarksformulas.com/

Be cautious of their online calculator and hand check it's results until you become comfortable with it.

Thanks
Matt

 

[minger]

If you don't have access and ask nicely, I'm sure someone can post the equation. Roark is a must-have for any engineer though. It also lists edge effects and stresses at the ends IIRC.

 

[tuoni]

Oh! I tried registering and looking at the online calculator, but I guess I wouldn't see much without having paid for something ^^; Software was indeed insanely expensive, considering I need it only for a few small things.

I did find a book called "Formulas for stress, strain, and structural matrices - Second edition" by Walter D. Pilkey. However, the maths turned out to be a little too much for me.

The stress for a shell of revolution was exactly what I needed, but I couldn't quite figure out it, and the equations quickly ended up pretty long and complex.

 

[minger]

For a cone with half angle \alpha under uniform pressure q, at a position y, with a radius R (function of half angle and y), with tangential edge support, the:

Meridional Stress
<br /> \sigma_1 = \frac{qR}{2t\cos\alpha}<br />

Circumferential (Hoop) Stress:
<br /> \sigma_2 = \frac{qR}{t\cos\alpha}<br />

Change in Radius:
<br /> \Delta R = \frac{qR^2}{Et\cos\alpha}\left(1-\frac{\nu}{2}\right)<br />

Change in axial position:
<br /> \Delta y = \frac{qR^2}{4Et\sin\alpha}\left(1-2\nu -3\tan^2\alpha)<br />

p.s. and thickness t

 

[tuoni]

What is E and ν? and am I correct to assume that this is a cricular, straight cone?

 

[CFDFEAGURU]

What is E and ν?

E is the modulus of elasticity
v is Poisson's ratio

As minger stated

For a cone with half angle \alpha ...

For a straight cone, the half angle \alpha is set to zero.

Can you obtain a copy of Roark's Formulas for Stress and Strain from a library?

Thanks
Matt

 

[tuoni]

I will try to find a copy of Roark's Formulas for Stress and Strain, I'm probably going to need it for a few other things anyway.

Thank you for the help!

 

[CFDFEAGURU]

You can buy a used version for less than $60.00 (US Dollars) from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/007072542X/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Thanks
Matt