Appendix B.

Design of Supports and Stiffening Rings for Thin Wall

Horizontal Vessels

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Appendix B Pressure Vessel Manual

B1.0 General
Scope 1. The bending stresses in the shells of horizontal cylindrical vessels at the support
are often great enough to require stiffening rings at the point of support. This is
especially true for large diameter thin-walled vessels or for vessels that are
stacked one on top of the other. Reasonable criteria to determine whether a
vessel requires stiffening at the supports and for sizing such stiffeners as may
be required are presented in these notes.
Supports without 2. Steel supports for horizontal vessels are shown on Standard Drawing
Stiffeners GA-C99694. The vessel designer should check the maximum support reaction
allowed by the vessel shell. For a 120° angle of contact the maximum allowable
support reaction is
W120 = 189,000 t2 (lb),
where t is the effective shell thickness (i.e., less corrosion allowance) in inches.
For a 150° angle of contact the allowable reaction is
W150 = 312,000 t2 (lb)
These allowable reactions are based on a maximum allowable bending stress
equal to 20,000 psi, and an effective shell length of 1.5 times the diameter
(which excludes possible stiffening effect of heads). As the allowable bending
stress is a function of the operating temperature, it is suggested that it be limited
to two-thirds of yield strength of the shell material at operating temperature. In
case this two-thirds of yield strength at operating temperature is less than
20,000 psi, the maximum allowable support reaction “W” given above should
be reduced proportionally. (See Reference 1 for yield strength versus tempera-
ture curves.)
Supports with 3. If these allowable reactions are exceeded, excessive circumferential bending
Stiffening Rings stresses in the shell are introduced and stiffening rings will generally be
required. These stiffening rings or ring girders can be installed either inside or
outside the vessel. An economical installation may be obtained by designing the
vessel with an inside ring over standard supports. An internal ring girder should
either be welded continuously to the shell, or not be welded to the shell at all.
Intermittent welds between the ring and the shell have broken loose, probably
because the shell stretches from hoop tension cause a radial pull on the welds.
Stresses due to weld shrinkage have also contributed to this type of failure.
Applied Moment 4. By using the curves in Figure B-12, located at the end of this appendix, the
bending moment at various points around the circumference can be computed
by the equation:
M = K⋅W⋅R (inch-lb)
in which K is a function of the angle θ (see Figure B-12)
W is the total load at the support, lb
R is the vessel radius, in.
Section Modulus Similarly, the required section modulus for the composite stiffening ring and/or
Required shell section is given by the equation:

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Pressure Vessel Manual Appendix B

KWR 3
S = -------------- ( in )
f
where f = design stress; use 20,000 psi maximum, or two-thirds of yield
strength at operating temperature, if less.
Values of K are as follows (from Figure B-12).
Angle of Contact Between Support and Shell K
90° 0.083
105° 0.066
120° (normal minimum angle per ASME Code) 0.053
135° 0.042
150° 0.032
Section Modulus 5. To determine the available section modulus of an unreinforced shell section use
Furnished by Shell an effective length of shell at each support equal to 1.5 times the diameter, or
the distance between supports if it is smaller, unless the support is within a
distance of 2 feet from head-shell seam. This will give results that agree well
with actual experience for contact angles of 120° and larger. See Figure B-1.

Fig. B-1 Calculating Available Section Modulus of an Unreinforced Shell Section

Section Modulus 6. As first approximations the following effective section moduli are suggested for
of Composite the composite section of shell and stiffeners (stiffener welded to shell): See
Section Figure B-2.
Fig. B-2 Effective Section Moduli for Composite Section of Shell and Stiffeners

Factor m 2.0 1.8

Factor m 1.8 1.75

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Appendix B Pressure Vessel Manual

S = m·S´
S = Effective section modulus of the composite section
S´ = Section modulus of the added stiffener about its neutral axis
For more accurate design, the following design method is suggested for the
composite section (see Figure B-3).
Fig. B-3 Alternate (more accurate) Design Method for Composite Section

a. Determine the length of shell which is effectively serving as a flange for

the stiffening ring
B = 1.56 Rt
Reference [2]
b. Using B for the effective or equivalent width of flange, calculate neutral
axis and the section modulus of the composite section. See Figure B-10 at
the end of this appendix for section moduli of composite T-sections.
See also sample problem in Part II, Paragraph 5, below for alternate
calculations.
Note This equation has been suggested in Reference 2 for the maximum effective
width of the flange of a curved beam. While not rigorous, it can be reasonably
applied to a vessel with a stiffening ring, but should not be used to check the stresses
in a vessel without a ring, as experience and theory both indicate that considerably
more of an unstiffened shell must be effective in resisting the bending moments
imposed by the support (see Paragraph 2 above and Reference 3).
Support for 7. When locating and designing supports for vessels subjected to external pres-
Vacuum Vessels sure, consideration should be given to both the ASME Pressure Vessel Code
requirements for cylindrical shells under external pressure as well as to stresses
in shell due to support reactions. It is often advantageous to satisfy these
requirements by having stiffening rings at the supports serve as vacuum stiff-
eners also, in which case their location may be governed by the design length of
a vessel section for vacuum as calculated in accordance with the ASME Code.
Internal Struts 8. A third possible method of stiffening the shell at points of vessel support is the
use of internal struts, perhaps also in combination with stiffening rings.
However, the use of internal struts should be limited to large vessels operating
at low internal pressures, since internal struts restrain the radial growth of the
shell thereby leading to circumferential distortion of the shell and the ring
girder. This distortion might, in turn, cause a failure of the internal weld connec-
tion to the shell.

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Pressure Vessel Manual Appendix B

The loads (excluding the effect of internal pressure) for which internal struts
should be designed can be estimated from the following values derived from
Figures B-11 and B-12 (located at end of this appendix).

Angle θ (degrees) — 30° 45° 60°

Load on each of two struts — 0.25W 0.25W 0.25W
with resting supports (Case I)
(Part II, Paragraph 1)
Load on single strut with 0.50W 0.336W 0.254W 0.187W
saddle support (Case II)
(Part II, Paragraph 1)
Load on each of two struts with — 0.241W 0.286W 0.318W
saddle supports (Case II)
W = load at support

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Appendix B Pressure Vessel Manual

B2.0 Supplementary Notes and Sample Problems

Loading 1. To determine the magnitude of the bending stresses around the vessel shell at
Conditions the point of support both with and without internal struts, two general types of
vessel supports are considered, as shown below in Figure B-4.
Fig. B-4 Vessel Supports

In case the bending stress is too high at the point of support, stiffening rings
may be used, with or without internal struts, as discussed in Part I, Paragraph 8.
Several types of internal strut installations are possible, as shown in Figure B-5.
Fig. B-5 Internal Strut Installations

Bending Moments 2. The bending moments at points marked A, B, C and D in Figures B-4 and B-5
are a maximum at one of these points, except for Case I when θ approaches
90°. Suitable equations for handling Case I (Figure B-4) are presented in Refer-
ence 4; the results are plotted on Figure B-11. The correct formula for Case II
was developed from the general theory of curved beams (Reference 5); the
results are plotted on Figure B-12.

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Pressure Vessel Manual Appendix B

Stiffening Effect 3. Stiffening can often be derived from heads close to supports. In effect, the head
of Heads increases the length of the shell effective in resisting the moments induced by
the support. An approximate analysis for this case is given in Reference 6,
together with design charts. However, it is felt that experimental data to date do
not support the stiffening allowance permitted in this reference. For the design
stress of 20,000 psi, use the shell lengths shown in Figure B-6 for the type of
head and location of support involved.
Fig. B-6 Shell Lengths for Design Stress of 20,000 psi

Sample Problem: 4. As an example, consider a 5-foot diameter, 25-foot shell length, ½-inch shell
No Stiffening Ring thickness vessel supported by support feet of Mark No. A-19 indicated on the
Required Standard Drawing GA-C99694. The value of the angle θ is 60 degrees. Take the
load as 21,000 pounds on each support and assume that the supports are located
3 feet from the end of the shell. Then the effective shell length may be taken as
1.5 × 5 = 7.5 feet or 90 inches. Allowing 1/16 inch for corrosion allowance, the
effective section modulus at the support is
1/6 × 90 × (7/16)2 = 2.87 in3
From Figure B-12, the maximum moment is found to be
0.053 WR = 0.053 × 21,000 × 30 = 33,400 in • lb
The stress is then 33,400/2.87 = 11,600 psi which is permissible as a local
bending stress.

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Appendix B Pressure Vessel Manual

Sample Problem: 5. As an example, consider a 14-foot diameter, 42-foot shell length 5/8-inch shell
Stiffening Ring thickness vessel with saddle supports as indicated in Figure B-7.
Required
Fig. B-7 Example Vessel for Sample Problem

The load on each support is 200,000 pounds (Liquid weight 42 lb/ft 3). If the
shell is assumed to maintain contact with the saddle, the curves in Figure B-12
may be used. For θ = 75°, the maximum moment is
0.032 WR = 0.032 × 200,000 × 84 = 537,000 in • lb
With no stiffening ring the effective shell length may be taken as 21 feet and the
section modulus of this length is
1/6 × 12 × 21 × (5/8)2 = 16.4 in3

537, 000
The maximum computed bending stress is --------------------- = 32, 900 psi which obvi-
16.4
ously calls for a stiffening ring.
6. Next, consider the effect of a ¾ inch × 8 inch stiffening ring inside the shell.
The effective flange width is 1.56 Rt = 1.56 84 × 0.625 = 11.3 in., giving
a tee section as shown in Figure B-8.
Fig. B-8 Tee Section for Sample Problem

in which:
B = Effective flange width
z = Ring thickness
t = Shell thickness

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Pressure Vessel Manual Appendix B

d = As shown
y = Distance to neutral axis
The moment of inertia about the neutral axis is
3 3 2 2 2
d z + Bt ( d z + Bt )
I = ----------------------- – -------------------------------
3 4 ( dz + Bt )
2 2
d z + Bt
and y = --------------------------
2 ( dz + Bt )

In the present problem,

B = 11.3 in
d = 8.625 in
t = 0.625 in (no corrosion allowance assumed)
z = 0.750 in
from which
I = 93.9 in4
y = 2.22 in

I 3
Section modulus = ------------ = 14.62in (14.71 in3 by using Figure B-10 or an
d–y
approximate S = 16.0 in3 per Paragraph 6, Part I), and
537, 000
stress = --------------------- = 36, 700 psi which is too high.
14.62
7. This stress can be reduced by using a stronger ring made up of an
8 inch × 6 inch × ½ inch structural angle section, as shown in Figure B-9.
Fig. B-9 Stronger Ring to Reduce Stress

Neutral axis and moment of inertia of combined section:

d1 = distance between c.g. of composite section and c.g. of a
component

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Appendix B Pressure Vessel Manual

Area y Ay d1 d12 Ad12 Io I

1. 7.06 0.313 2.21 2.86 8.12 57.30 0.23 57.53
2. 6.75 6.155 41.60 2.99 8.92 60.25 44.30 104.55
13.81 43.81 Itotal = 162.08
43.81
y = ------------- = 3.17 in
13.81
‘
537, 000 ( 5.46 )
Stress in 6 inch leg ------------------------------------ = 18, 100 psi which is less than
162.08
20,000 psi and, therefore, acceptable.
8. As an alternate practical solution, a ring made of 1-in. × 10-in. steel bar similar
to Figure B-8 would provide an essentially equivalent moment of inertia. Its
cross-sectional area is about one-fifth that of the angle, but it might possibly
cost even less than the angle section because of easier fabrication.
References 1. Engineering Department Design Guide 24DB(2), Appendix F, 1957.
2. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Reclamation “Penstock Analysis and Stiff-
ener Design.” Boulder Canyon Project Final Reports, Part V, Bull. 5, 1940.
3. Timoshenko, S. “Theory of Plates and Shells.” 1st Edition. McGraw-Hill. 1940.
(pp. 427 - 432).
4. Roark, R.J. Formulas for Stress and Strain. 3rd Edition. McGraw-Hill. 1954.
(Case 25 on p. 168).
5. Ludwig, L. Standard Oil Company of California. “Computation of Bending
Moments at Supports of Vessels with Welded Saddle Supports.” 1943. For
General Engineering Department Design Guide D-4 (Superseded), Eng. Dept.
File No. 890.102.
6. Zick, L.P. “Stresses in Large Horizontal Cylindrical Pressure Vessels on Two
Saddle Supports.” Welding Research Supplement, Welding Journal, September
1951.

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Pressure Vessel Manual Appendix B

Fig. B-10 Section Moduli of Composite T-Sections

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Appendix B Pressure Vessel Manual

Fig. B-11 Bending Moments at Supports of Horizontal Cylindrical Vessels with Simple Resting Supports

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Pressure Vessel Manual Appendix B

Fig. B-12 Bending Moments at Supports of Horizontal Cylindrical Vessels with Welded Saddle Supports

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