66010

ELASTIC STRESSES IN A LONG CIRCULAR CYLINDRICAL SHELL WITH A FLAT

HEAD CLOSURE UNDER UNIFORM PRESSURE

1. NOTATION

D mean diameter of shell m in

E Young’s modulus N/m2 lbf/in2

f iφ maximum total meridional stress in shell inner N/m2 lbf/in2

surface at junction of head and shell

f iθ total hoop stress in shell inner surface at junction of N/m2 lbf/in2

head and shell

fm radial and tangential stress in median plane of head N/m2 lbf/in2

due to radial restraint applied by shell

f nom nominal hoop stress in median surface of shell, pD/2ts N/m2 lbf/in2

f 0φ total meridional stress in shell outer surface at N/m2 lbf/in2

junction of head and shell

f 0θ total hoop stress in shell outer surface at junction of N/m2 lbf/in2

head and shell

f T , f Tr , f Tθ flat plate stresses defined in Item No. 65002 N/m2 lbf/in2

L length of shell m in

L min minimum length of long shell m in

p uniform pressure on shell and head N/m2 lbf/in2

q shear stress in shell at junction of head and shell N/m2 lbf/in2

t thickness of head m in

ts thickness of shell m in

λ effective rotational restraint applied to head by shell N m/m rad lbf in/in rad

Convention: Tensile stresses are positive.

Compressive stresses are negative.

Both SI and British units are quoted, but any coherent system of units may be used.

Issued March 1966

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2. INTRODUCTION

Curves are given that enable the maximum stresses to be determined for a long circular cylindrical shell
with a flat head closure under uniform pressure only. The stresses and deflections of the head may be
determined using this Item in conjunction with Item No. 65002 “Elastic stresses and deflections for flat
circular plates with D/t ≥ 4 under uniform pressure”. The curves relate equally to shells under internal or
external pressure. In the latter case it should be noted that fnom is compressive and therefore negative.

The curves apply only to stresses within the elastic range of the material.

It is assumed that there is no relative movement between the shell and the head at the junction which is
idealised as shown in the sketch below.

Sketch 2.1

This sketch shows the stresses in the shell under internal pressure. Under external pressure their senses
will be reversed.

The curves are based on thin shell theory and small deflection plate theory and do not therefore extend
below D/ts = 10 or D/t = 4.

This Item applies only to cylinders of sufficient length that negligible interaction occurs between the
discontinuity effects of the two ends of the pressure vessel. The minimum cylinder lengths for which the
Item may be used are shown on Figure 1, where Lmin/D is plotted against D/ts.
3
In Figures 2 to 5 f/fnom or q/fnom is plotted against D/ts for various values of t/ts. In Figure 6 ( λ ⁄ E ) ( D ⁄ t )
is plotted against D/ts for various values of t/ts. All the curves are presented in terms of non-dimensional
quantities.

The shell stresses obtained from the curves are nominal stresses at the discontinuity. They result from the
combination of the bending stresses due to the restraint exerted by the head on the shell with the stresses
in the median surface of the shell. There is, in addition, a stress concentration at the corner which is affected
by the local conditions of attachment.

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The stresses at the junction are given because the meridional stress at the inner surface fiφ is the greatest
discontinuity stress in the shell. It is possible for the hoop stresses elsewhere in the shell to exceed those
for the inner and outer surfaces at the junction. However, the hoop stresses never approach the magnitude
of the meridional stresses at the junction. The meridional stresses associated with the maximum hoop
stresses are also relatively small.

Current practice in forms of attachment of flat heads to cylindrical shells is described in the references.
These references quote safe working stresses and preferred arrangements for specified conditions. In
consequence, stresses derived from the figures should not be compared with these safe working stresses.

It is possible for a shell under external pressure to collapse before the discontinuity stresses quoted here
exceed the permissible stress, particularly for large values of D/ts . Data Sheet 04.09.01 (in the Structures
Sub-Series) should be consulted to obtain the collapse pressure of the shell.

3. USE OF THE CURVES

For cylinders with L > 1.05D the “long shell” assumption of negligible interaction between the ends is
correct for all values of D/ts > 10 . If L < 1.05D , Figure 1 should be consulted to determine the lowest
value of L/D for which the remaining curves maybe used.

To evaluate a particular stress the appropriate value of f/fnom or q/fnom obtained from Figures 2 to 5 must
be multiplied by the nominal hoop stress of the shell fnom.

When t/ts < 2 the maximum stress in the head may exceed the maximum stress in the shell. To obtain the
stresses in the head Item No. 65002 “Elastic stresses and deflections for flat circular plates with D/t ≥ 4
under uniform pressure” is used in the following manner.
3
First, a value of ( λ ⁄ E ) ( D ⁄ t ) is obtained from Figure 6 for the required values of D/ts and t/ts. Using this
3
value of ( λ ⁄ E ) ( D ⁄ t ) , values for the plate stresses fT , fTr and fTθ are then obtained from Figures 1 and
3 of Item No. 65002. The stress fm due to the radial restraint exerted by the shell should then be obtained
from Figure 5, and added to each of the plate stresses fT , fTr and fTθ to give the total stresses in the head.

The curves for Figures 5 and 6 that are used for the flat head are subject to the same limitations as the curves
of Figure 3 of Item No. 65002 (see Section 3 of that Item).

4. DERIVATION

1. WATTS, G.W. The stresses in a pressure vessel with a flat head closure. Trans. am. Soc.
LANG, H.A. mech. Engrs, Vol. 74, pp. 1083-1091, 1952.

5. REFERENCES

1. Fusion welded pressure vessel code. British Standards Institution, B.S.

1500.
2. Boiler and pressure vessel code. Section VIII: Unfired pressure vessels.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

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6. EXAMPLE

A cylindrical pressure vessel with a flat head closure is subjected to a uniform internal pressure of 690
kN/m2. Find the stresses at the junction of the head and the shell if the mean diameter of the shell is 0.9 m,
its length is 0.75 m, and the thickness of the shell and the head are 0.0125 m and 0.05 m, respectively. The
value of Young’s modulus is taken as E = 207 GN/m2 .

The parameters required for use of the Item are tabulated.

D
---- 72
ts

t
--- 4
ts

pD
f mo n = ------- 24.8 MN/m2
2t s

L
---- 0.833
D

From Figure 1,

L min
----------- = 0.385 .
D

Hence the remaining curves may be used to analyse the given shell.

Shell Stresses

Figure
used
Stress ratio Stress (MN/m2)

f iΦ
2 ----------- 6.52 f iφ 161.7
f nom

f iθ
3 ----------- 1.25 f iθ 31.0
f nom

f 0φ
2 ----------
- –5.52 f 0φ –139.9
f nom

f 0θ
3 ----------- –2.40 f 0θ –59.5
f nom

q
4 ----------- 0.47 q 11.7
f nom

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Head Stresses

Figures 5 and 6 are used in conjunction with Item No. 65002 to find the head stresses.
fm
From Figure 5, ---------
- = 0.079.
fnom

Hence fm = 1.96 MN/m2.

λD
From Figure 6, -------- = 0.136 MN/m2.
3
Et

The additional parameters required for the use of Item No. 65002 are tabulated.

P  D 4
--- ---- 0.35
E t 
t 2
E  --- 639 MN/m2
 d

From Item No. 65002:

Figures
used Stress (MN/m2)

1 and 3 fT 55.0

1 and 3 fTr 15.4

*
1 and 3 fTθ –14.6

total fT 56.96

total fTr 17.36

*
total fTθ 16.56

*
The stress f Tθ is a compressive stress on the loaded face of the head. In the range of the curves of Figure 3 (Item No.
65002) bending is predominant and there is therefore an equal tensile stress on the unloaded face.

5
 
1.2
Lmin

1.1
D

1.0

ts
0.9

0.8

0.7

Lmin 0.6 Curves applicable

D
6

0.5
Curves inapplicable

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

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0.0
101 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 102 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 103

D
ts

FIGURE 1 MINIMUM LENGTHS OF SHELLS FOR WHICH CURVES ARE APPLICABLE

 
12

11
t
ts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
10
9
9

8
fiφ 10
fnom
7

6
7

5
1 − foφ
fnom
4

66010
0
101 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 102 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 103

D
ts

FIGURE 2
 
6

t 1 2 3 4 5
5 ts

6
4

Inner Surface
3 7
fiθ
fnom
8
2
9
10
1

0
8

-1

-2
foθ
fnom
-3 10

9
-4 Outer Surface

8
-5 t
ts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

66010
-6
101 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 102 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 103

D
ts

FIGURE 3
 
1.2

1.1
t
ts 1 2 3 4
1.0

0.9
5

0.8

0.7

6
q 0.6
fnom
9

0.5
7

0.4
8

0.3
9
10
0.2

0.1

66010
0.0
101 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 102 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 103

D
ts

FIGURE 4
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100
9
t 1
ts 2
8

4
3

2 4

fm 10-1 5
fnom 9
8

6 6

4 7

3
8

2
9

10

10-2
101 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 102 2 3 4

D
ts

FIGURE 5

10
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101
9
8
7 1
6

3
t
ts t
ts
2 3

100 2
9 4
8
7
6

5 5

4
6
λD 3
3
Et3 7
8
9
2 10

10-1
9 5
8
7
6
6
5

4 7

3 8

9
2 10

10-2
101 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 102 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 103

D
ts

FIGURE 6

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THE PREPARATION OF THIS DATA ITEM

The work on this particular Item was monitored and guided by the Stress Analysis and Strength of
Components Committee which has the following constitution.

Chairman
Mr H.L. Cox – National Physical Laboratory

Vice-Chairman
Mr G.P. Smedley – Lloyd’s Register of Shipping

Members
Prof. J.M. Alexander – Imperial College of Science and Technology
Mr C.E. Day – National Coal Board
Mr J.R. Dixon – National Engineering Laboratory
Dr H. Fessler – University of Nottingham
Mr N.E. Frost – National Engineering Laboratory
Dr R.B. Heywood – A. Macklow-Smith Ltd
Mr M.J. Kemper – A.P.V. Company Ltd
Mr M.J.M. Raymond – Imperial Chemical Industries
Dr R.T. Rose – John Thompson Ltd
Mr J. Spence – University of Strathclyde.

The members of staff of ESDU concerned were

Mr E.R. Welbourne – Head of Solid Body Mechanics Group

Mr R.L. Penning – Solid Body Mechanics Group.

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