Nozzles on spheres with outward weld area under internal pressure analysed by FEM and thin shell theory

Internal pressure stresses at nozzle/vessel (spherical) junctions, obtained by various analysis methods based on thin shell theory, will be compared in this study. To evaluate an improved shell-based analysis method capable of accounting for the effect of the additional material in the weld, an axi-symmetric 3D finite element analysis is also included. For information purposes, two methods from recognized vessel codes have been added. The main conclusions are that any outward weld area offers little reinforcement and that stress analyses based upon thin shell theory are quite acceptable. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.