ASME Sec. VIII Div.

2:
5.2.2.2 Stress Categorization
[b] Local Primary Membrane Equivalent Stress (PL)
It’s the equivalent stress, derived from the average value across the thickness of a section,
of the local primary stresses produced by the design pressure and specified mechanical
loads but excluding all secondary and peak stresses. A region of stress in a component is
considered as local if the distance over which the equivalent stress exceeds 1.15 does not
extend in the meridional direction more than (Rt)1/2.

497 - Part 2: Large Diameter Ratio Shell Intersections: Parametric Finite Element
Analysis of Large Diameter Shell Intersections (Internal Pressure)
Widera, have shown that the stress concentration at the shell intersections can be accurately
predicted by finite element analysis if the element type and the mesh density in the vicinity of the
intersection are properly chosen. Therefore, the finite element method is employed in carrying
out this parametric study. A cantilever model, employing a quadratic shell element is used for this
project

However, for large diameter ratio (0.5 < d/D < 1.0) shell intersections under internal pressure and
external loadings, the design procedures are still in need of improvement. A comprehensive
parametric study of large diameter ratio cylindrical shell intersections subjected to internal
pressure and external loadings is being conducted.

The external loadings considered in this study are in-plane moment on the nozzle, out-of-plane
moment on the nozzle, and axial force on the nozzle. The range of diameter ratios (d/D) covered in
all parts of this Bulletin is 0.333 ≤ d/D ≤ 1.0. The parametric finite element analysis of large
diameter shell intersections subjected to various external loadings was investigated in this
report. A 4-node shell element was employed in this analysis.
Nozzle PRO
The Crude Mesh check box will cause the program to use the coarsest mesh possible. The Opt. Mult box lets
the user enter a value that will multiply the default mesh. Any value greater than 0.01 may be entered but
users are cautioned against inputing values much greater than 2. (Usually values of 1.5 to 1.8 work best.)
As a rule of thumb, the element side length immediately adjacent to a discontinuity should be smaller than
1/2
(RT) , where R is the mean radius and T is the thickness. (This is the side of the element that is pointing
away from the discontinuity. Element sides parallel to the discontinuity can generally be larger. The required
size of the element is a function of the variation in the stress/deflection state.)

For head geometries the straight flange, transition and shell lengths can be omitted if desired, but it is
recommended that at least (3)(RT)1/2 of shell length be added to any head boundary. Conversely – just
because there is 20ft. of 48” diameter shell attached to a 48” diameter head – there is no reason to enter 20
ft. of shell. Usually only 3- to 4- times (RT)1/2 needs to be entered down the shell length to accurately trap
discontinuity stresses in the vicinity of a nozzle or attachment on the head. When the d/D ratio is large, the
nozzle may distort the cross section of the head and this distortion will extend down the shell. An accurate
attached shell length must be entered to properly observe this effect.
Nozzle tilt angles can only be entered for cylinder or cone geometries, or for head geometries where the
nozzle is off the centerline of the vessel by more than the diameter of the nozzle.

Standard Element Type – The basic element used in NozzlePRO is the eight-noded reduced integration
curved shell element. While more difficult to formulate and solve using active column techniques, and
subject to several inconsistent deformation modes, the element nevertheless has been found to be
remarkably insensitive to shape and less sensitive to size than many of the more “formally” derived element
types. Stiffness convergence is good even with the crudest mesh and non-averaged stress calculations give a
good visual indication of the adequacy of the stress state. The element is basically the same curved shell
element used in the Ansys program as STIF93. The formulation can be found in many finite element texts,
rd
one being:“Concepts and Applications of Finite Element Analysis,” by Cook, Malkus, and Plesha, 3 ed., John
Wiley & Sons.

Element Sizes at Discontinuities – Element sizes near discontinuities of importance are influenced both by
major geometric dimensions, the square root of RT, the anticipated stress decay, and by experience in
running multiple similar geometries. Should the user think that mesh refinement or mesh “alteration” is
essential for a particular problem the analyst may follow the “How to Get Help” procedure and submit the
geometry for developer review. (See the section: “How to Get Help.”)

FEA Tools 2.0

Condición de borde - Longitud de Tubería Asociada (longitud del modelo de elemento finito)
Longitud 2D, dos veces el diámetro, es la opción predeterminada, un aproximado de 2 veces el
diámetro de la tubería es la longitud asignada a cada extremo de la intersección.
La opción de longitud 2D proporciona un modelo de elementos finitos eficaz y eficiente por lo tanto
es la recomendada.

Widera mostró que las longitudes de las condiciones de borde podrían necesitar ser mayores que
2D para lograr eliminar completamente la influencia del esfuerzo del ramal del límite de contorno
(límite de condición de borde). Esto ocurre para una relación D/T grande, sin embargo, en casos de
análisis elástico tiende a ser conservadora, por lo tanto la selección de longitudes más cortas
tiende a ajustar el conservatismo de altas relaciones de D/T en análisis elásticos.
La longitud 2D se utilizó con frecuencia antes de los 2000 y aparece en la nota 9 del Apéndice D-
300 de ASME B31.3.

Muchas de las pruebas originales se realizaron con accesorios de diámetros menores. Las
relaciones D/T para las pruebas eran relativamente bajas y un límite 2D era adecuado.
Cuando Widera empezó a ejecutar modelos de elementos finitos usando modelos con relaciones
D/T y d/D mayores, quedó claro que cuando la relación D/T se hace más grande, un criterio L = 2D
para la condición de borde no es adecuado para encontrar el mayor esfuerzo elástico local . Los
esfuerzos debido a cargas externas es local y está localizada en la región “ojo de gato” del plano
circunferencial para cargas fuera del plano (out-plane).

FEA SIF