SRINIVASAN RAMAKRISHNAN

UNDERSTANDING ASME CODE CALCULATIONS- PRESSURE VESSELS

OPENINGS AND
REINFORCEMENTS
CALCULATIONS

Learning Objectives
• Importance of various design parameters in Openings and reinforcements
• Understanding need for reinforcements
• Understanding what is to be reinforced and what will re inforce
• How mistakes can be avoided
• Gaps between Drawings and Calculations

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IT IS TO BE NOTED THAT RE INFORCEMENT DOES NOT MEAN PROVIDING REINFORCEMENT

PAD.
THERE MAY BE VARIOUS CONSIDERATIONS IN DECIDING THE THICKNESSES OF SHELLS, DISHED
ENDS OR NOZZLES.
HENCE YOU MAY USE A HIGHER THICKNESS THAN THE REQUIRED DESIGN THICKNESS AS PER
CALCULATION. THESE EXTRA THICKNESS (LESS COROSION ALLOWANE)AVAILABLE IS USED FOR
AREA CALCULATIONS.
IF THE AREA OF THESE MEMBERS ARE CALCULATED AND THEIR SUM IS MORE THAN THE AREA
REQUIRED BECAUSE OF OPENING, THEN PAD IS NOT REQUIRED.

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THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF REINFORCEMENTS INTEGRATED IN THE NOZZLES.

THESE WILL PROVIDE MORE AREA IN NOZZLES AND HENCE SOME CASES REQUIREMENT OF
PAD IS AVOIDED

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WHAT SHOULD BE THE DIAMETER OF THE PAD?

IS IT OK TO HAVE A LARGE DIAMETER PAD AND CLAIM RE INFORCEMENT?

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REINFORCEMENT IS REQUIRED FOR THE OPENING NOT FOR THE NOZZLE OD.
THE OUTSIDE RADIUS OF THE PAD HAS CERTAIN LIMITATION. THIS IS CALLED LIMITS OF
REINFORCEMENT. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR TO BE CONSIDERED IN AREA CALULATIONS

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THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF STRESS CONCENTRATIONS BECAUSE OF OPENINGS. IF NOT

COMPENSATED ADEQUATELY THEY ARE CANDIDATES FOR STRESS CONCENTRATION LEADING
TO FAILURE

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IT IS NORMAL PRACTICE TO USE REINFORCEMENT PAD OF SAME STRENTH OF THE SHELL OR

DISHED ENDS.

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FIG. UG-37.1
tn = 0.562 in.
Area of Reinforcement Required d = 11.626 in.
tn d t = 1.625 in.
tr = 0.863 in.
F = 1.0
fr1= 1

A= dtrF+2tntrF(1-fr1)

tr t

A = 11.625 x 0.863 x 1 + 0 If Nozzle Sn = 17,100 ( Sa -106-B)

= 10.032 + 0 Then fr1 =0.855 and A would be over
= 10.032 in.2 12”.

THIS IS THE FIRST STEP. AREA OF THE REINFORCEMENT REQUIRED.

PARAMETERS TO BE CONSIDERED ARE
d- ID OF THE NOZZLE AT THE OPENING
t THICKNESS OF THE SHELL
t1 THICKNESS OF THE AREA IN THE SHELL TO BE REINFORCED
tn THICKNESS OF THE NOZZLE
YOU NEED TO KNOW ALLOWABLE STRESS OF SHELL AND NOZZLE .

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FIG. UG-37.1
Area of Reinforcement Available in Vessel
tn d
tn = 0.562 in.
d = 11.625 in. A1 = d(E1t-Ftr)-2tn(E1t-Ftr)(1-fr1)
t = 1.625in. Or
tr = 0.863 in. A1 = 2(t + tn )(E1t-Ftr)(1-fr1)
F = 1.0 USE LARGER VALUE
fr1= 1
E 1= 1

tr t

LIMIT OF REINFORCEMENT

A1 = 8.85 in.2

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DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE COMPLEX FORMULA. THESE AR SIMPLE GEOMETRIC

CALCULATIONS
WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND HERE IS THE AREA AVAILABLE IN THE SHELL.
IT IS CALCULATED BASED ON THE BALANCE AREA OF t MINUS tr.
tr IS THE REQUIRED THICKNESS AS PER CALCULATIONS
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE AREA AVAILABLE IN THE SHELL IS LIMITED TO A PARTICULAR
DIAMETER. THERE ARE CALCULATIONS FOR THIS IN UG 40

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UG-37.1
Area available in nozzle welds
tn d
tn = 0.562 in. A41= (leg)2 fr2
tc = 0.398 in.
fr2 = 0.855
Weld leg = 0.5625 in.

A41=0.270 in.2

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THIS IS AGAIN SIMPLE GEOMETRIC CALCULATIONS FOR CALCULATING THE AREA AVAILABLE
FOR THE WELD.
HERE NO PAD IS USED. WELD SIZE SHOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO THE THICKINESS OF SHELL
AND NOZZLE. SHOULD BE AS SPECIFIED.

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UG-37.1
Area of reinforcement available on inside nozzle
ti d

Use smaller value

Fr2= sn/ss=1 A3= 2hti fr2
A3= 2 x 1.405 x 0.562 x 1

h, 2.5 t, 2.5ti
3.875 , 4.0625, 1.405 A3= 1.58 in2

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IN SOME CASES NOZZLES WILL BE PROJECTING INSIDE THE VESSEL. THE AREA AVAILABLE IN
THIS PROJECTION CAN BE TAKEN FOR CALCULATING AREA AVAILABLE.
COMMON MISTAKES
IN SOME PROCESS VESSELS NO INTERNAL PROJECTIONS ARE ALLOWED. BUT DESIGNER MAY
SHOW THIS PROJECTION AND CALCULATE AREA.
IN DRAWING I HAVE SEEN NO PROJECTIONS. BUT IN CALCULATIONS THIS PROJECTION IS
TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT

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Total Area of reinforcement available

tn d

A1+A2+A3+A41 ≥ A 11.484 versus 10.032

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NOW YOU HAVE TOTLA AREA AVAILABLE

IT IS THE SUM OF
1
A1 AREA AVAILBLE IN THE SHELL
A2 AREA AVAILBLE IN THE NOSSLE
A3 AREA AVAILABLE IN THE FILLET WELD
A4 AREA AVAILABLE IN THE INSIDE PROJECTION
IF THE SUM OF THESE AREAS ARE GREATER THAN AREA REQURIED A – THEN PAD IS NOT
REQUIRED.
IF NOT, YOU NEED TO INTRODUCE PAD AND CALCULATE AREA A5

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PAD SIZE SHOULD BE

WITHIN LIMIT

LIMIT

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THESE NOMENCLATURES ARE TO BE UDERSTOOD AND USED IN CALCULATINOS

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LIMITS OF REINFORCEMENT

UG-40, Limits of Reinforcement : [Internal Pressure]

CASE 1
Parallel to Vessel Wall (Diameter Limit) Dl 53.4500 mm
Parallel to Vessel Wall Rn+tn+t 26.7250 mm
Normal to Vessel Wall (Thickness Limit), no pad Tlnp 11.2500 UG-40,
CASE 2
Limits of Reinforcement : [Internal Pressure]
Parallel to Vessel Wall (Diameter Limit) Dl 96.5200 mm
Parallel to Vessel Wall, opening length d 48.2600 mm Normal to
Vessel Wall (Thickness Limit), no pad Tlnp 11.2500 mm TN
UG-40, Limits of Reinforcement : [Internal Pressure]
Parallel to Vessel Wall (Diameter Limit) Dl 508.0000 mm
Parallel to Vessel Wall, opening length d 254.0000 mm
Normal to Vessel Wall (Thickness Limit), no pad Tlnp 11.2500 mm
Normal to Vessel Wall, Inward 11.2500 mm
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UG-40, Limits of Reinforcement : [External Pressure]

Parallel to Vessel Wall (Diameter Limit) Dl 1200.0000 mm.
Parallel to Vessel Wall, opening length d 600.0000 mm.
Normal to Vessel Wall (Thickness Limit), pad side Tlwp 29.5000 mm.

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Calculation for reinforcement of openings.

Area of the opening required- A
1.The area of excess thickness in the shell or head, A 1
2.The area of excess thickness in the nozzle wall, A 2
3.The area available in the nozzle projecting inward, A 3
4.The cross-sectional area of welds, A 4

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TAKEN FROM DIV 2

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THIS EXPLAINS PRINCIPLE OF REINFORCEMENT.

LOOKS TO BE TEDIUS. BUT SOFTWARES CALCULATES THIS. SO NO NEED TO WORRY

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POINTS TO BE NOTED

REINFORCEMENT ARE TO BE CALCULATED ON MAWP AND EXTERNAL PRESSURE MAWP

IF AREA AVAILABEL IS MORE THAN AREA REQUIRED THEN NO PAD IS REQUIRED.
WHY AREA AVAILABLE OR REQUIRED IS DIFFERENT?
IN CASE OF EXTERNAL PRESSURES, tr , trn WILL BE DIFFERENT. HENCE THEY NEED TO BE
CALCULATED .

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AREA REQUIRED IN THIS CASE IS AVAILABLE IN THE SHELL ITSELF. HENCE NO NEED TO
CACULATE IF YOU DO MANUAL CALCULATIONS.
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO CALCULATE ALL THE AREAS.

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LAY OUT ANGLE IS THE ANGLE AT WHICH THE NOZZLE IS ORIENTED TOWARDS THE CENTRE
LINE OF THE VESSEL.
IN SOME CASES IT MAY BE TANGENTIAL PENETRATION IN DISHED ENDS.

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Results of Nozzle Reinforcement Area Calculations: (cm²)

AREA AVAILABLE, A1 to A5 | Design| External| Mapnc| -----------------------------------
----------------------------
Area Required Ar | 16.096| NA| NA|
Area in Shell A1 | 4.517| NA| NA|
Area in Nozzle Wall A2 | 1.090| NA| NA|
Area in Inward Nozzle A3 | 1.125| NA| NA|
Area in Welds A41+A42+A43 | 1.074| NA| NA|
Area in Element A5 | 8.400| NA| NA| (PAD)
TOTAL AREA AVAILABLE Atot | 16.206| NA| NA|

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IN THIS CASE, IT IS VERY CLOSE. YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT CORRECT tr AND trn ARE
TAKEN.

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Exempt Openings

Reinforcement Calculation Exception

– UG-36 exempts small openings in vessels not subject to
rapid fluctuations in pressure
• 3-1/2 in. (89 mm) diameter—in vessel shells
or heads with a required minimum thickness
of 3/8 in.(10 mm) or less;
• 2-3/8 in. (60 mm) diameter—in vessel shells
or heads over a required minimum thickness
of 3/8 in. (10 mm);
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ONE NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL IN THESE EXCEMPTIONS

IT DEPENDS ON HOW THE NOZZLE PENETRATES THE SHELL OR DISHED END
IF THE 89 MM NOZZLE PENETRATES THE HEAD TANGENTIALLY THEN THE OPENING IS NOT A
CIRCULAR HOLE. IT WILL BE ELLIPTICAL HOLE MAJOR DIA OF THIS HOLE MAY BE MORE THA
THE NOZZLE DIA. THEN AREA REQUIRED WILL BE MORE. IT MAY REQUIRE A REINFORCEMENT
PAD IF TOTAL AREA IS NOT ADEQUATE.

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Exempt Openings (cont.)

• threaded, studded, or expanded connections in which
the hole cut in the shell or head is not greater than
2-3/8 in. (60 mm) diameter
no two isolated unreinforced openings, in accordance with
above, shall have their centers closer to each other than
the sum of their diameters

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MANY PROCESS VESSELS HAVE LOT OF NOZZLES.

ABOVE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE HUGE MIXING TANK
CHALLENGE HERE IS THE SPACING OF THE NOZZLES.

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Nozzle Reinforcement

The following are only guidelines based on Section VIII, Division 1 of the ASME
Code [1]. This is not an attempt to cover every possibility nor is it to become a
substitute for using the Code.
Limits.
a. No reinforcement other than that inherent in the construction is required for
nozzles [1, Section UG-36(c) (3)]:
• 3-in. pipe size and smaller in vessel walls 3/8-in. and less.
• 2-in. pipe size and smaller in vessel walls greater than 3/8 in.
b. Normal reinforcement methods apply to [1, Section UG-36(b) (1)]:
• Vessels 60-in. diameter and less—1/2 the vessel diameter but not to exceed 20
in.
• Vessels greater than 60-in. diameter—1/3 the vessel diameter but not to exceed
40 in.

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WHY THESE ARE LIMITED.

LARGE OPENINGS IN SMALL VESSELS WILL HAVE OTHER ISSUES LIKE LOADINGS.

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THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF LARGE OPENING. THERE IS NO SPACE TO PUT PAD, HENCE ONLY
SOLUTION IS TO INCREASE THE RING THICKNESS. THIS MAY RESULT IN STRESSES. HENCE FEA IS
RECOMMENDED.
WE COME ACROSS THIS SITUATION IN PVHO VESSELS WHERE ONE NEEDS TO ENTER THROUGH
THIS OPENING. SOME PATIENTS NEED TO BE TREATED INSIDE.

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If a lower strength material is used, either in the pad or in

the nozzle, then the area taken as reinforcement must be
decreased proportionately by the ratio of the stress
intensity values of the two materials. Weld material taken as
reinforcement must also be decreased as a proportion,
assuming the weld material is the same strength as the
weaker of the two materials joined.
Thickness.
While minimum thicknesses are given in Reference 1,
Section UG-16(b), it is recommended that pads be not less
than 75% nor more than 150% of the part to which they are
attached.
Width.
While no minimum is stated, it is recommended that re-
pads be at least 2 in. wide. 29

THESE ARE ABOUT PADS

PREFERABLY USE THE PAD OF THE SAME MATERIAL AS SHELL OR HEAD
STRESS RATIO WILL BE 1
PREFERABLE TO USE PADS OF THICKNESS USED NOT MORE THAN THE THICKENSS OF SHELL
OR HEAD
YOU CANNOT USE VERY THICK PAD. IT MAY RESULT IN OTHER ISSUES LIKE STRESSES
WIDTH OF THE PAD SHOULD BE AT LEAST 2”
OD OF THE PAD IS DECIDED BY THE RE INFORCEMENT LIMTIS. IT SHOULD BE INSIDE THE
LIMIT TO ACCOMMODATE FILLET WELD.

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Elliptical or obround openings.

When reinforcement is required for elliptical or obround
openings and the long dimension exceeds twice the short
dimension, the reinforcement across the short dimension
shall be increased to guard against excessive distortion
due to twisting moment [1, Section UG-36(a) (1)].

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Openings in flat heads.

Reinforcement for openings in flat heads and blind flanges shall be as follows [1,
Section UG-39]:
a. Openings < 1/2 head diameter—area to be replaced equals 0.5d (tr), or
thickness of head or flange may be increased by:
• Increasing head thickness by 1.414.
b. Openings > 1/2 head diameter—shall be designed as a bolted flange
connection..

Openings in torispherical heads.

When a nozzle opening and all its reinforcement fall within the dished portion,
the required thickness of head for reinforcement purposes shall be computed
using M = 1 [1, Section UG-37(a)].

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Reinforcement should be calculated in the

corroded condition assuming maximum
tolerance (minimum t). For non x-rayed
vessels, tr must be computed using a stress
value of'0.8S [1, Section UC,-37(a)].

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Openings through seams. [1, Section UW-14].

a. Openings that have been reinforced may be located in a welded
joint. E= joint efficiency of seam for reinforcement calculations.
ASME Code, Division 1, does not allow a welded joint to have two
different weld joint efficiencies. Credit may not be taken for a
localized x-rayed portion of a spot or non x-rayed seam.
b. Small nozzles that are not required to be checked per the Code
can be located in circumferential joints providing the seam is x-
rayed for a distance three times the diameter of the opening with
the center of the hole at midlength.

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Openings near seams.

Small nozzles (for which the Code does not require the reinforcement
to be checked) shall not be located closer than 1/2 in. to the edge of a
main seam. When unavoidable, the seam shall be x-rayed, per ASME
Code, Section UW-51, a distance of one and a half times the diameter
of the opening either side of the closest point [1, Section UW-14],

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External pressure.
Reinforcement required for openings subject to external
pressure only or where longitudinal compression governs
shall only be 50% of that required for internal pressure
and tr is thickness required for external pressure [1,
Section UG-37(d) ].

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7Multiple openings. [1, Section UG-42], a. For two openings closer than 2
times the average diameters and where limits of reinforcement overlap, the
area between the openings shall meet the following:
• Must have a combined area equal to the sum of the two areas.
• No portion of the cross-section shall apply to more than one opening.
• Any overlap area shall be proportioned between the two openings by the
ratio of the diameters.
• If the area between the openings is less than 50% of that required for the
two openings, the supplemental rules of Para. l-7(a) and (c) shall apply.

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QUESTION
THE REINFORCEMENT LIMIT ON THE SHELL IS 250 MM DIA. FILLET WELD LEG SIZE IS 5 MM
REINFORCEMENT PAD DIA SHOULD BE
A. 250 DIA
B. 240 DIA
C. 75 DIA
D. BOTH B AND C

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1,WHY TELL TALE HOLE IS REQUIRED?

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REVIEW AND QUESTIONS

1. REINFORCEMENT AREA IS CALCULATED BASED ON

1. BASED ON ACTUAL THICKNESS

2. BASED ON AVAILABLE THICKNESS
3. BASED ON EXTRA THICKENSS AFTER DEDUCTING REQUIRED THICKNESS+CA

2. WHEN NOZZLES ARE PROJECTING INSIDE, THE PROJECTION AREA CAN BE INCLUDED IN AREA CALCULATION
1. YES
2. NO
3. FLANGES CAN BE TAKEN FOR REINFORCEMENT AREA CALCULATIONS
1. YES
2. NO
4. MATERIAL OF REINFORCEMENT SHOULD BE SAME AS THAT OF THE SHELL MATERIAL
1. YES
2. NO
5. THERE ARE TWO NOZZLES OF OD 65 MM AND 200 MM. CAN THEY BE SEPARATED BY A DISTANCE OF 150 MM?
6. CAN AN OPENING PASS THROUGH A WELD
1. YES
2. NO
7. AREA CALCULATION OF A NOZZLE SHOULD TAKE THE FULL LENGTH OF THE NOZZLE.
1. YES
2. NO

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8. THE FILLET WELD OF A REINFORCEMENT PAD SHOULD FALL WITHIN REINFORCEMENT LIMIT
1. YES
2. NO
9. REINFOCEMENT AREA CALCULTIONS FOR EXTERNAL PRSSURES ARE THE SAME AS THAT OF INTERNAL PRESSURES
1. YES
2. NO
10. CAN THERE BE A BUTT JOINT ON REINFORCEMENT?

11. WHEN 3 OPENINGS OVERLAP AS SHOWN IN SLIDE 29, REINFORCEMENT AREA OF COMMON OVERLAP PORTION CAN BE
USED IN BOTH OPNINGS.
1. YES
2. NO

12. WHY TELL TALE HOLES ARE REQUIRED?

13. GENERALLY THE PAD THICKNESS SHOULD BE WITHIN 75% OF SHELL THICKNESS AND NOT MORE THAN 150% ,
1. YES
2. NO
14, PAD SHOULD BE AT LEAST 2 INCHES WIDE
1. YES
2. NO
15 PAD IS ALWAYS REQUIRED FOR LARGE DIA NOZZLES.
1. YES
2. NO

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