Pressure Vessel End Cap Velocity

[x1959]

If you had a pressure vessel with an end-cap welded on and this girth weld was to fail, how might you calculate the velocity of the end-cap assuming the tank is pressurized with water?

 

[john.phillip]

Hydrostatic pressure limits the amount of kinetic energy transferred to the end-cap, as the water will not push the end-cap further after the breach, instead, the water will drop and flow to the ground. If the flow rate is too high, the water flow will become as hazardous as the end-cap traveling with it or not. The flow rate and vessel diameter will dictate the maximum horizontal speed of the end-cap.

You should worry much more about the water jets coming out of the seams before the end-cap weld fails completely. Also, flange bolts can fail before the end-cap and let water jets out.