Abstract
Torispherical heads are known to exhibit buckling due to internal pressure for a variety of vessel configurations. This paper provides an overview of the phenomenon and includes Finite Element Analysis results to confirm the elastic buckling pressure threshold for a set of torispherical head shapes. Internal elastic buckling pressure levels from the ASME Section VIII, Division 2 threshold pressure for buckling and from the FEA results are compared. These results are applicable for the design of the ASME Section III – Class 1 torispherical heads based on Article A-4000 of ASME Section III.
Plots of buckled shapes and corresponding hoop stresses are presented. The vessel geometry diameters studied range from 84 in., to 120 in., to 144 in.. The crown radius to knuckle radius (L/r) ratios included in the study range from 6 to 14. Design pressures used to size the vessel wall range from 100 psi to 1300 psi in non-uniform increments. The data sets generated in the study are discussed. Nonlinear geometric effects are not considered in the buckling pressure level results generation.
