Table of Contents

Problem Statement........................................................................................................................ 2
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 4
Pressure Vessel .......................................................................................................................... 4
Types of Vessels ......................................................................................................................... 5
1. Cylindrical Pressure Vessels: ............................................................................................... 5
2. Spherical Pressure Vessels: .................................................................................................. 5
3. Reactors: ................................................................................................................................ 5
4. Boilers: ................................................................................................................................... 6
5. Heat Exchangers: .................................................................................................................. 6
6. Separators:............................................................................................................................. 6
Types of Supports: .................................................................................................................... 7
There are four types of supports commonly used. ..................................................................... 7
1. Skirt support.......................................................................................................................... 7
2. Bracket or Lug support ........................................................................................................ 7
3. Saddle support....................................................................................................................... 7
4. Leg support ............................................................................................................................ 7
Software ..................................................................................................................................... 9
MDSolids: .............................................................................................................................. 9
Software based Calculations .................................................................................................. 10
Mohr Circle: ............................................................................................................................ 12
Maximum shear stress theory ............................................................................................ 12
Maximum Distortion energy .............................................................................................. 13
Specimen Calculation: (Theoretical Based).......................................................................... 13
Given: ........................................................................................................................................... 13
Solution ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Conclusion: .................................................................................................................................. 16
Figure 1: Pressure Vessels ............................................................................................................ 4
Figure 2: Cylindrical Pressure Vessels ....................................................................................... 5
Figure 3: Spherical Pressure Vessels........................................................................................... 5
Figure 4: Reactors ......................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 5: Boilers ............................................................................................................................ 6
Figure 6: Heat Exchangers ........................................................................................................... 6
Figure 7: Separators ..................................................................................................................... 6
Figure 8: Skirt supports ............................................................................................................... 7
Figure 9: Bracket or Lug Supports ............................................................................................. 8
Figure 10: Saddle Supports .......................................................................................................... 9
Figure 11: MD Solids interface .................................................................................................. 10
Figure 12: Mohr Circle (Software) ............................................................................................ 12
Figure 13: Maximum shear stress theory based ...................................................................... 12
Figure 14: Maximum Distortion energy based ........................................................................ 13
Figure 15: Mohr Circle Theoretical based ............................................................................... 16
 Problem Statement
A cylindrical pressure vessel is constructed from a long, narrow steel plate by wrapping the plate
around a mandrel and then welding along the edges of the plate to make a helical joint (Fig. 1).
The helical weld makes an angle α = 55 with the longitudinal axis. The vessel has an inner radius
r = 1.8m and wall thickness t = 20mm. The material is steel with Elastic modulus E = 200 GPa and
Poisson’s ratio υ = 0.30. The internal pressure p is (800 + x*) kPa. Here the value of x* is the last
2 digits of your registration number. Calculate the following quantities for the cylindrical part of
the vessel:
a) The circumferential and longitudinal stresses σ1 and σ2, respectively; [1 marks]
b) The maximum in-plane and out-of-plane shear stresses; [1 marks]
c) The circumferential and longitudinal strains ε1 and ε2, respectively; [1 marks]
d) The normal stress σw and shear stress τw acting perpendicular and parallel, respectively, to the
welded seam. Also, sketch Mohr’s circle that describes the state of stress. [2 marks]
Task 2: Software-based calculations
I. Solve the parts a) to d) given above, using any graphical software available online (e.g.,
MD SOLIDS), and compare the results.
II. If the Yield strength of the materials is 250 MPa, determine if yielding has occurred at
point A based on Maximum Distortion energy and Maximum shear stress theory. Also,
calculate the Factor of safety of the material.
 Introduction
Pressure Vessel
A pressure vessel is a type of container designed to hold fluids or gases at pressures that are
different from the surrounding atmospheric pressure. These vessels are used in a wide range of
applications in various industries, including oil and gas, chemical processing, pharmaceuticals,
food and beverage, and power generation.
Pressure vessels are typically made of materials that are capable of withstanding high pressure,
such as carbon steel, stainless steel, and other alloys. The shape and size of a pressure vessel may
vary depending on its intended use, but they are commonly cylindrical, spherical, or rectangular
in shape.
One of the key factors in the design of a pressure vessel is its maximum allowable working pressure
(MAWP), which is the highest pressure that the vessel is rated to withstand. This value is
determined based on several factors, including the properties of the materials used, the thickness
of the walls, and the vessel's shape and size.
To ensure the safe operation of pressure vessels, they are subject to various regulations and
standards, such as the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code in the United States. These
standards cover various aspects of pressure vessel design and construction, including material
selection, fabrication methods, non-destructive testing, and pressure relief systems.
Pressure vessels may also be subject to periodic inspections and maintenance to ensure that they
continue to meet safety standards and remain in good working condition. This may involve visual
inspections, non-destructive testing, and other forms of evaluation to identify any potential issues
before they can cause a problem.

Figure 1: Pressure Vessels

Types of Vessels
There are several types of pressure vessels, each designed for specific applications and operating
conditions. Here are some of the most common types:
1. Cylindrical Pressure Vessels:
These are the most common type of pressure vessel and are typically used for storing gases or
liquids under pressure. They are cylindrical in shape and are usually made of steel or other
high-strength materials. Cylindrical pressure vessels may have a variety of end caps, such as
dished or flat ends.

Figure 2: Cylindrical Pressure Vessels

2. Spherical Pressure Vessels:

Spherical pressure vessels have a spherical shape and are often used for storing gases under
high pressure. They are typically made of steel or other high-strength materials and are
designed to withstand high pressure without deforming.

Figure 3: Spherical Pressure Vessels

3. Reactors:
Reactors are pressure vessels that are specifically
designed for chemical reactions. They may be used for
processes such as synthesis, polymerization, and other
chemical reactions that require high temperatures and
pressures.
Figure 4: Reactors
4. Boilers:
Boilers are pressure vessels used to generate steam for power generation or other industrial
processes. They are typically large cylindrical vessels with a firebox or furnace at one end and
tubes running through the vessel to transfer heat to the water or other fluid inside.

Figure 5: Boilers

5. Heat Exchangers:
Heat exchangers are pressure vessels used to transfer heat from one fluid to another. They may
be used in a variety of applications, such as in refrigeration systems, chemical processing, and
power generation.

Figure 6: Heat Exchangers

6. Separators:
Separators are pressure vessels used to separate
different components of a mixture, such as oil and
water. They may be used in oil and gas production,
chemical processing, and other applications.

Figure 7: Separators
Types of Supports:
There are four types of supports commonly used.
1. Skirt support
2. Bracket or Lug support
3. Saddle support
4. Leg support

Skirt supports
Tall columns such as distillation column, absorption column are provided with skirt support. From
a designer point of view, skirt support is attractive because it produces minimum amount of local
stresses caused by mechanical loads acting at its junction with the vessel.

Figure 8: Skirt supports

Analysis of skirt support is far easy as compared to bracket supports.

Skirt is a cylindrical shell having diameter equal to outside diameter of the vessel or more than the
outer diameter of the vessel. It is welded at the bottom of the vessel and rests over a bearing plate
which rests over concrete foundation.
Skirt support is designed by considering the following loads:
1. Dead weight of the vessel.
2. Operating weight of the vessel.
3. Lateral loads by restrained thermal growth of interconnecting pipes.
4. Wind load acting over the vessel.
5. Seismic load
To calculate the skirt thickness all these loads are required to be considered
Bracket or Lug Supports
Bracket supports are very common for process equipments. Vertical vessels with height to
Ciameter ratio 2-3 are generally provided with bracket supports. These are fabricated from plates
and attached to the vessel with minimum possible weld length. Brackets rests on columns or
structural beams. A vessel with bracket support is shown below. There are many advantages of the
bracket supports.

Figure 9: Bracket or Lug Supports

1. Cost is less.
2. Can be easily attached to the Vessel with minimum weld length.
3. Can be easily leveled.
4. Can absorb diametrical expansions if sliding arrangement is provided.
5. Most suitable for thick wall vessels because of their ability to absorb bending stresses
eccentrically of loads.
There are some disadvantages also. These are:
 Brackets are eccentric to the vessel. This results in bending moment and compressive,
tensile, shear stresses are induced in the vessel wall. Therefore these are not suitable for
thin wall vessels unless the vessel wall is reinforced with backing plate.
 For vessel up to 0.8 m diameter two brackets are sufficient. Up to 3 m diameter, 4 brackets
are used 6 brackets up to 5 m diameter and 8 brackets above 5 m diameter are used.

Saddle Supports
Horizontal vessels are generally provided saddle supports.. If the underside of the vessel is to be
located only a short distance above the ground line, steel saddles resting on the top of concrete
piers can be used.
 Figure 10: Saddle Supports

Horizontal vessels resting on saddle support is shown in Fig. The vessel behaves like a beam.
Number of saddles is generally two. It can be more if unavoidable. Supports in the form of ring
are preferred if it is required at more than two positions.

Software
MDSolids:
MD Solids is a software program designed for engineering students and professionals to analyze
and design basic structures such as beams, trusses, and columns. It allows users to perform a
variety of calculations related to stress, strain, deflection, and other properties of materials and
structures.
The software offers a user-friendly interface that includes 3D graphics and step-by-step solutions
to complex problems. Users can input the dimensions and properties of a structure, and the
software will calculate the relevant parameters and provide visual representations of the results.
MD Solids includes a variety of tools for analyzing and designing structures, such as stress and
strain calculations, beam deflection and slope calculations, and section property analysis. It also
offers a library of common structural shapes, such as I-beams, channels, and angles, and allows
users to input custom shapes.
The software includes a feature called "Free Body Diagram Creator," which allows users to draw
and visualize free body diagrams for different structures. This feature can help users understand
the forces and stresses acting on a structure and how they affect the structure's behavior.
Overall, MD Solids is a powerful tool for engineering students and professionals who need to
analyze and design basic structures. Its user-friendly interface and step-by-step solutions make it
accessible for users of all levels, and its comprehensive range of tools and features can help users
perform complex calculations with ease.

Figure 11: MD Solids interface

Software based Calculations

Introduction
The hoop stress (i.e., the stress in the circumferential direction) is computed from  = pr/t. The axial stress is
computed from  = pr/2t.

Normal stresses in the cylinder wall

Using an inside radius of r = 1.8000 m, a wall thickness of t = 0.0220 m, and an internal pressure of p = 834.00
kPa, the hoop stress in this cylinder is h = pr/t = (834.00 kPa)(1.8000 m)/(0.0220 m) = 9,896.85 psi. The axial
stress parallel to the longitudinal axis of the closed cylinder is a = pr/2t = (834.00 kPa)(1.8000 m)/(2 × 0.0220 m)
= 4,948.42 psi.

The hoop and axial stresses are the in-plane principal stresses for the cylinder. The third principal stress acts in a
radial direction. On the outer surface of the cylinder, the (gage) pressure is zero; consequently, the radial stress is r
= 0. On the inner surface, the radial stress is r = -p, since the pressure pushes on the inside surface. The magnitude
of the radial stress is much smaller than the in-plane stresses, and it is often ignored. If the radial stress is considered,
a state of triaxial stress exists on the inner surface of the cylinder, and r = -p is the third principal stress. This
non-zero principal stress affects the magnitude of the absolute maximum shear stress.
Shear stresses in the cylinder wall
The absolute maximum shear stress on the outside surface of a closed cylindrical pressure vessel occurs in an
out-of-plane direction. This shear stress is given by max = pr/4t = (834.00 kPa)(1.8000 m)/(4 × 0.0220 m) =
2,474.21 psi. The maximum shear stress in the plane of the cylinder wall (in-plane shear stress) is given by  =
pr/4t = (834.00 kPa)(1.8000 m)/(4 × 0.0220 m) = 2,474.21 psi.

On the inside surface of a closed cylindrical pressure vessel, the absolute maximum shear stress must account
for the radial stress created directly by the pressure. The most positive principal stress is the hoop stress, 1 = h,
and the most negative principal stress is the radial stress, 3 = r = -p. Therefore, the absolute maximum shear
stress on the inside surface of the cylinder is max = (1 – 3 ) / 2 = [9,896.85 psi – (–834.00 kPa)] = 5,008.90 psi.

Strains in the cylinder wall

The strains in the cylinder wall due to internal pressure pose an interesting situation. When we design a pressure
vessel, we usually speak in terms of gage pressure rather than absolute pressure. On the outside of the cylinder,
the gage pressure is zero. Since there is no pressure acting in the radial direction, the normal stress in the radial
direction on the outside surface of the cylinder wall is zero. The stresses on the outside surface of the cylinder act
entirely in the plane of the wall (that is, in the circumferential and longitudinal directions); therefore, the wall is in a
state of biaxial stress. We must use Hooke's Law for biaxial stress to compute the normal strains. Using E =
200.000 GPa and  = 0.3000, the circumferential strain is h = (1/E) (h – a) = (1/200.000 GPa) (9,896.85 psi –
0.3000 × 4,948.42 psi) = 290.00  m/m, and the strain in the axial direction is a = (1/E) (a – h) = (1/200.000
GPa) (4,948.42 psi – 0.3000 × 9,896.85 psi) = 68.24  m/m. The strain in the radial direction (caused by the Poisson
effect) is r = –(/E) (a + h) = –(0.3000/200.000 GPa) (4,948.42 psi + 9,896.85 psi) = -153.53  m/m.

The internal pressure creates an equal compression stress in the radial direction on the inner surface of the cylinder
(i.e., r = –p). Since there are normal stresses in three direction on the inside surface of the cylinder (longitudinal,
circumferential, and radial directions), the wall is subjected to a state of triaxial stress. We must use Hooke's Law
for triaxial stress to compute the normal strains. Using E = 200.000 GPa and = 0.3000, the circumferential strain
is h = (1/E) [h – (a – p)] = (1/200.000 GPa) [9,896.85 psi – 0.3000 (4,948.42 psi – 834.00 kPa)] = 291.26 
m/m, and the strain in the axial direction is a = (1/E) [a – (h – p)] = (1/200.000 GPa) [4,948.42 psi – 0.3000
(9,896.85 psi – 834.00 kPa)] = 69.49  m/m. The strain in the radial direction (caused by the Poisson effect) is r =
(1/E) [r – (a + h)] = (1/200.000 GPa) [–834.00 kPa – 0.3000 (4,948.42 psi + 9,896.85 psi)] = -157.70  m/m.
Note that the difference between the strains on the outer and inner surfaces is relatively small, and this difference gets
smaller as the ratio of inside radius to wall thickness (r/t) gets larger. Because of this, the effect of pressure on the
inside surface of the cylinder is sometimes neglected when computing strains in the cylinder.

Stresses on a weld
The normal and shear stresses acting perpendicular to the specified welded joint (that is, in the n-direction) are
n = 6,576.41 psi and nt = 2,325.00 psi (CW on the n face), respectively. The normal and shear stresses acting
parallel to the specified welded joint (i.e., in the t-direction) are t = 8,268.87 psi and tn = 2,325.00 psi (CCW on
the t face), respectively.

Force transmitted across a seam

With an internal pressure of p = 834.00 kPa, a distributed force of (9,896.85 psi)(0.0220 m) = 1,501,199.62
N/m acts across a longitudinal seam, and a distributed force of (4,948.42 psi)(0.0220 m) = 750,599.81 N/m acts across
a circumferential seam.
Mohr Circle:

Figure 12: Mohr Circle (Software)

Maximum shear stress theory

Figure 13: Maximum shear stress theory based

Safety Factor:
According to above graphical representation of Maximum Shear Stress Theory we can conclude
that the material of the pressure vessel will not fail at the given pressure.
FS = 3.6637 (Factor of Safety)
Maximum Distortion energy

Figure 14: Maximum Distortion energy based

Safety Factor:
According to above graphical representation of maximum distortion energy we can conclude that
the material of the pressure vessel will not fail at the given pressure.
FS = 4.2305 (Factor of Safety)

Specimen Calculation: (Theoretical Based)

Given:
r = 1.8m
t = 20mm
P = 800 + 34 =834 kPa
υ = 0.30
α = 55o
E = 200 GPa
Solution
Part A)
Pi x ri
σ1 = 𝑡
834000∗1.8
σ1 = 0.02

σ1 = 75.06 x 106 Pa
The Maximum Principle stress is 75.06 MPa
Pi x ri
σ2 = 2𝑡
834000∗1.8
σ2 = 2∗0.02

σ2 = 37.53 x 106 Pa
The minimum stress is 37.53 MPa

Part B)
σ1−σ2
(τmax)In plane = 2
75.06−37.53
(τmax)In plane = 2

(τmax)In plane = 18.765 MPa

σ1
(τmax)Out of plane = 2
75.06
(τmax)Out of plane = 2

(τmax)Out of plane = 37.53 MPa

Part C)
(2−υ)Pi x ri
ε1 =
2𝑡𝐸

(2−0.3)834∗103 x 1.8
ε1 = 2(0.02)(200∗109 )

ε1 = 0.000319

ε1 = 3.19 x 10-4
(1−2υ)Pi x ri
ε2 = 2𝑡𝐸
 (1−(2)0.3)834∗103 x 1.8
ε2 = 2(0.02)(200∗109 )

ε2 = 0.00007506

ε2 = 7.506 x 10-5

σ1 = 75.06 x 106
Pa

σ2 = 37.53 x 106
Pa

As,
C (σavg , 0)
75.06+37.53
C=( , 0)
2

C = (56.29, 0)

σx−σy 2
R = √( ) + 𝜏𝑥𝑦 2
2

75.06−37.53 2
R = √( ) +0
2

R = 18.765 MPa

So, (τmax)In plane = 18.765 MPa

And σavg = 56.29 MPa
σ1
(τabs.) max = 2
75.06
(τabs.) max = 2

(τabs.) max = 37.53 MPa

Part D)
σx+σy σx−σy
σn = + cos 2𝜃 +τxysin 2𝜃
2 2

37.53+75.06 37.53−75.06
σn = + cos 70
2 2

σn = 49.87 MPa
 σx+σy σx−σy
σt = - cos 2𝜃 +τxysin 2𝜃
2 2
37.53+75.0 37.53−75.06
σt = - cos 70
2 2

σt = 62.71 MPa

τw = (σx − σy) cos 2𝜃 sin 2𝜃

τw = 17.63 MPa

Mohr Circle: (Theoretical based)

Figure 15: Mohr Circle Theoretical based

Conclusion:
From above Comparison between software based calculation and theoretical based it can be
concluded that there is a small difference between both the values. But as MD Solids calculations
are based on fundamental principles of mechanics and the properties of the materials involved.
These calculations are often based on standard formulas and equations that are well-established in
the field of engineering so well consider Software based calculation more accurate than Theoretical
based.