The Method of Design by Analysis for Cylindrical Pressure Vessels with Spherically Dished Head

Standards GB 150.3-2011 and JB4732-1995 (Confirmed in 2005) provide design methods for the cylindrical pressure vessels with spherically dished head under internal pressure. It is available for the ratio of the internal pressure p to the allowable stress Sm, p/Sm≥0.002. Engineers desire the design curves for p/Sm<0.002. This paper presents a stress analysis method based on elastic thin shell theory for a spherically dished head jointed to the end or the middle of the cylindrical shell. The design criteria in the current standards are modified. Based on the theoretical stress solution and design criteria, the suitable range of the design curves is extended to p/Sm≥0.001. Nonlinear elastic perfectly-plastic finite element method ensures the reliability of the design curves.