Abstract
Two welded stainless steel tanks incorporating spherical end caps, torispherical knuckles and cylindrical body are tested to failure under internal pressure loading. One tank is of a traditional crown and segment construction and has a relatively high level of imperfection. The other tank has fewer circumferential welds at the knuckle and has a smaller level of imperfection. The pressure for first yield at the knuckle is well below predictions of first-order theory; better agreement exists when the measured geometry is input to the analysis and large displacement theory is used. Failure is by elastic-plastic buckling at the knuckle, and in each case, a reduced postbuckling pressure is easily maintained. Most but not all buckles occur at meridional weld lines. Good agreement is observed with a recent proposal for the prevention of premature buckling in torispherical vessels.
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