Plastic limit loads of pad reinforced cylindrical vessels under out-of-plane moment of nozzle

The Purpose of this work is to study the plastic limit load of pad reinforced cylindrical vessels with different d/D ratios under out-of-plane moment loading on a nozzle. Three full-scale test models were designed and fabricated. A 3-D nonlinear finite element numerical analysis was also performed. Data on plastic limit moment is obtained from load-displacement and load-strain responses. The results indicate that plastic limit loads determined by test (including displacement and strain measurements) and finite element analysis are in agreement.