Page 1 of 9

SOLUTION
Number:
WE1

Title:
Thin unwelded flat end
Stress categorization
Date:
12
th
Nov 2008
Idealisation:

Due to the symmetry of the example, the geometry can be represented by an axisymmetric
model, and using 4-noded quadrilateral elements.


Mesh:








System and Element(s) Used:


Elements

4-noded quadrilateral elements



Enlarged view
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SOLUTION
Results for Comparative Target Solution Quantities:

N/A


Relevant Codes of Practice, Industry Standard and/or Statement of Assessment Criteria:

ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Rules for Construction of Pressure
Vessels, Division 2 Alternative Rules; American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2007


EN13445-3 Annex B, Unfired pressure vessels Part3: Design, Annex C


Description of Results Post-processing (where relevant):

Analysis data

Loading

Internal Pressure, P = 4.2Nmm
-2


Material parameters

The following material parameters are used for analysis (given in the example description).

Youngs Modulus, E=212000Nmm
-2


Yield stress,
y
=255Nmm
-2
at a temperature of 20
o
C

Poissons ratio, =0.3


Analysis steps

- An elastic analysis is performed in order to obtain the elastic stress distribution.

- 5 classification lines are considered, these are shown below as A, B, C, D, E.

Page 3 of 9

SOLUTION


- Using the FEA software post processor (Ansys software was used in this case), the
linearized stresses along the defined classification lines are extracted.
The Tresca equivalent stress is used. This is given directly by the software so it is not
required to do the calculations manually.

- The stresses are classified as necessary.

- Checking the linearized stresses against the allowable stress limits. In this example
the allowable stress limits and terminology used are those given in EN13445-3
AnnexC.


Description of Results

The figure shown below shows the elastic stress distribution for the applied internal pressure of
4.2Nmm
-2
. The maximum stress intensity is at the inside corner with a value of 290.93Nmm
-2
.

Page 4 of 9

SOLUTION

Elastic stress distribution


For each classification line, the stresses are linearized by the FEA software (Ansys). The
graphs shown below show the linearization results for each classification line. The graphs are
plotting the Tresca equivalent stress (Stress intensity, SINT) across the section thickness.

It may be noted that the membrane plus bending plot is not linear across the section thickness.
At the stress components level, the bending stress across the thickness is in fact linear.
However the graphs shown are for the Tresca equivalent stress which due to the nature of its
calculation will result in the contours shown.

The table lists the linearization results for classification line B. The results are grouped by
type, namely; membrane, bending, membrane plus bending, peak and total. The FEA
software lists both the component linearized stresses and the calculated Trescas and von
Mises equivalent stress. In this example the Trescas equivalent stress is used.

The software first linearizes the stresses at a component level and then calculates the
equivalent stress on the results.


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SOLUTION

Trescas equivalent stresses for classification line A


Trescas equivalent stresses for classification line B


Trescas equivalent stresses for classification line C

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SOLUTION

Trescas equivalent stresses for classification line D


Trescas equivalent stresses for classification line E

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SOLUTION

Linearisation results for classification line B

The maximum membrane, membrane plus bending, peak and total stresses for all five
classification lines are listed in the next table. For each classification line, the table also shows
the assigned stress categories, allowable and calculated stresses.

Note:
In this example there is no local stress concentration effects or thermal loads applied.
Therefore no peak stress can exist.
The calculated peak stress given by Ansys is a feature of the mathematical
linearization procedure. In this case, the peak stress is simply the difference between
the linearised membrane plus bending stress and the actual membrane plus bending
distribution. In EN13345-3 Annex C, this is referred to as the non-linear part.
As here there is no peak stress, the membrane plus non-linear bending stress
distribution is equivalent to the total stress distribution. Therefore, for this case the
calculated total equivalent stress is used in the assessment rather than the linearised
membrane plus bending equivalent stress.
Page 8 of 9

SOLUTION

CL Membrane
stress intensity
Membrane plus
bending
stress intensity
Peak stress
intensity
Total
stress intensity
Nmm
-2
Nmm
-2
Nmm
-2
Nmm
-2
A 10.52 14.07 0.54 14.36
B 7.90 27.87 28.32 56.17
C 7.24 48.47 211.90 193.50
D 37.71 221.60 26.46 247.60
E 19.15 187.10 4.65 187.10
CL Stress
Categories
Calculated
stress
Nmm
-2
Nmm
-2
A P
m
f 170.00 10.52
P
m
+Q
3f
510.00 14.36
B P
L
1.5f
255.00 7.90
P
L
+Q
3f
510.00 56.17
C P
L
1.5f
255.00 7.24
P
L
+Q
3f
510.00 193.50
D P
L
1.5f
255.00 37.71
P
L
+P
b
1.5f
255.00 247.60
E P
m
f 170.00 19.15
P
m
+P
b 1.5f 255.00 187.10
Allowable stress


The value of f is taken as
2
3
o

.

Note
For classification line D, the bending stress could either be classified as primary or as
secondary. The choice in the classification depends on whether the plate edge bending
reduces the bending stress at the plate centre. Both the ASME and EN13445 codes make
reference to this situation. The ASME code basically says that if the bending moment at the
plate edge is required to maintain the bending stress in the centre region within acceptable
limits, the edge bending is classified as primary (P
b
) otherwise it is classified as secondary (Q).
EN13445 says that the classification of bending stress into the primary (P
b
) category ensures
that no plastic deformation can occur in the region under consideration during normal service.
So to be conservative it is best to classify the bending stress as primary bending.

Maximum allowable stress
All calculated stress are below their respective stress limits. Therefore the applied internal
pressure is allowable. The value most close to its stress limit is for classification line D, P
L
+P
b
.
The maximum allowable stress can be calculated in the following manner;

P
mux
=
P - ollowoblc
o
cq
=
4.2 - 2SS
247.6
= 4.SSNmm
-2


Page 9 of 9

SOLUTION
Conclusion(s):

The applied internal pressure of 4.2Nmm
-2
has been found to be admissible.

From this simple example it is evident that the process of stress classification can sometimes
be not so clear, and further calculations (when possible) may be necessary to correctly
determine the appropriate category.

Note of classification line C
Classification line C passes through a transition region and it may be argued that it is not a
valid classification line.

The CEN Design by analysis manual gives guidelines on how to do stress linearization. Other
guidelines that are based on research work done by the US Pressure Vessel Research
Council project (PVRC) Three dimensional stress criteria are given in the ASME code.

The student is encouraged to review these guidelines as a means of learning more on stress
categorization. Obviously the guidelines to be followed need to be the ones given in the
pressure vessel code being followed.